The US president adopts a calmer tone as Tehran denies executions, and military action is put on hold
Donald Trump has said he has been assured that Iranian authorities have halted the killing of protesters, striking a noticeably more measured tone and signalling a possible pause in the United States’ consideration of military action against Iran.
Speaking at the White House on Wednesday night, the US president said he had received assurances from what he described as “very important sources on the other side” that the use of lethal force against protesters had stopped and that executions would not go ahead. Trump said the situation would now be closely monitored before any further decisions were made.
“They’ve said the killing has stopped and the executions won’t take place,” Trump said, adding that there had been plans for multiple executions that day, which, he claimed, would now not proceed. He cautioned, however, that the US had not yet verified the information independently.
Asked whether military action was now off the table, Trump replied: “We’re going to watch it and see what the process is,” suggesting a temporary pause in the aggressive rhetoric that had dominated recent days.
The comments mark a shift from Trump’s earlier statements, in which he repeatedly spoke of coming to the aid of the Iranian people amid a violent crackdown on nationwide protests. Human rights groups have reported thousands of deaths since demonstrations erupted late last month, alongside mass arrests and widespread internet blackouts.
Earlier on Wednesday, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, also sought to calm tensions, stating in a television interview that there was “no plan” to execute protesters in retaliation for the unrest. “Hanging is out of the question,” he said, directly addressing international fears over imminent executions.
One protester who had been sentenced to death earlier this week was widely expected to be executed on Wednesday, but family members were later informed that the sentence had been postponed.
The apparent de-escalation follows several days of heightened concern that military confrontation could be imminent. Iran briefly closed its airspace without explanation, prompting international airlines to reroute flights away from Iranian and Iraqi skies. Some US diplomatic and military personnel in the Gulf region were advised to limit movement or evacuate certain locations as a precaution.
Iranian officials warned regional states hosting US military bases that those installations could be targeted if the United States launched a strike. Previous confrontations between Tehran and Washington have included retaliatory attacks that were largely symbolic but underscored the risks of escalation.
Diplomatic missions in Tehran, including the UK embassy, were temporarily closed, while several European governments urged their citizens to leave the country amid the uncertainty.
Iran’s airspace later reopened, and officials renewed calls for dialogue. Araghchi urged the US to pursue diplomacy rather than conflict, acknowledging strained relations but arguing that negotiations remained preferable to war.
Trump’s remarks appeared to ease global market anxiety, with oil prices falling sharply as fears of supply disruptions receded. Precious metals also dipped following the comments.
In separate remarks, Trump expressed uncertainty about whether exiled opposition figures would be able to unite support within Iran, saying the situation had not reached a point where leadership change was imminent.
International pressure on Tehran remains intense. Senior diplomats from major economies said they were prepared to impose additional measures over Iran’s handling of the protests, citing the use of violence, arbitrary detention and intimidation tactics.
The UN Security Council is expected to receive a briefing on the situation, as governments worldwide continue to assess whether the pause in violence marks a genuine shift or a temporary lull in Iran’s crackdown.