President Donald Trump said he has received assurances that the killings of antigovernment protesters in Iran have stopped, as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated there is “no plan” for executions by Tehran.
Iran Protests and US Response
Trump told reporters Wednesday he had been informed that the killings of protesters in Iran had ceased and that planned executions were halted. He spoke hours after the US began withdrawing some personnel from an airbase in Qatar amid growing fears of a renewed US-Iran conflict.
Trump said he had spoken to “very important sources on the other side” and would watch how the crisis develops, but did not rule out potential US military action. He noted the US administration received a “very good statement” from Iran.
Araghchi later told Fox News that “there is no plan for hanging at all” when asked about potential executions of protesters. “Hanging is out of the question,” he said.
Analysts suggest Trump’s comments signal a softening of his tone towards Iran, potentially a “face-saving way” to avoid military intervention, though it does not entirely rule out such a conflict. Trump has a track record of negotiating with Iran while simultaneously threatening military action.
Trump has previously threatened Iran with military strikes to pressure Tehran into greater alignment with US demands, and warned that a harsh response to protesters could result in US attacks.
Barbara Slavin, a distinguished fellow at the Stimson Center, said Trump is “probably torn” between wanting a quick victory and avoiding a protracted conflict in the Middle East.
Earlier Wednesday, Britain and the US withdrew some personnel from an airbase in Qatar after a senior Iranian official warned Tehran would hit US bases if Washington strikes. Several countries have issued advisories for their citizens in the region amid fears of wider regional escalation.
Iran has said it is prepared to retaliate in the event of any US intervention. Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said Iran is ready to respond “decisively” to Israel and the United States, accusing them of being behind the protests.
Pakpour accused Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being “the murderers of the youth of Iran.”
Araghchi also told Fox News that the Iranian government is in full control after a crackdown on protests that began January 8. “After three days of terrorist operation, now there is a calm. We are in full control,” he said.
The protests initially started in December when shopkeepers protested a fall in the value of the local currency and the rising cost of living, quickly escalating into widespread antigovernment demonstrations.
Iranian state television has acknowledged reports of a high death toll during the protests, attributing blame to “armed and terrorist groups.” Iranian state media reports more than 100 security personnel have been killed in two weeks of unrest, while opposition activists claim the death toll is higher, including thousands of protesters.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has reported confirming the deaths of more than 2,400 protesters and more than 150 security personnel and government supporters. Al Jazeera has not been able to independently verify these figures.
Iran is currently experiencing a near-total telecommunications blackout, surpassing 144 hours, according to NetBlocks. Amnesty International reported evidence of “mass unlawful killings committed on an unprecedented scale” in Iran over the past week, including against peaceful protesters and bystanders.
Verified audiovisual evidence depicts severe and fatal injuries, including gunshot wounds to the head and eyes, and security forces directly firing at fleeing protesters, according to Amnesty International.
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