WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Friday welcomed Iran’s decision to cancel scheduled executions, saying the move had influenced his decision to hold off on possible military strikes.
“I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday—over 800 of them—have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran. Thank you!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The US president, who has repeatedly expressed support for protesters in Iran, said he had personally decided against immediate military action, dismissing reports that Arab or Israeli officials had influenced his choice.
“Nobody convinced me. I convinced myself,” he told reporters while departing the White House for South Florida.
Trump added that the cancellation of the executions had “a big impact” on his decision. Iranian media, however, reported that Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami called for some protesters in Tehran to face execution, indicating ongoing tensions within the country.
Protests erupted in Tehran on December 28 following a sharp depreciation of the rial and worsening economic conditions, later spreading to other cities. Trump had previously warned that lethal crackdowns could prompt US strikes, but the latest developments appear to have temporarily averted military escalation.
Despite holding off on strikes, the US continues to increase pressure on Iran. The Treasury Department announced sanctions against Ali Larijani, secretary general of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and other officials linked to the crackdown on demonstrators. Meanwhile, US forces are repositioning in the Middle East, including deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, previously in the South China Sea, as a precaution.
