Washington, 15 January (H.S.): President Donald Trump declared on Wednesday that killings of Iranian protesters have ceased and no executions are planned, citing information received on good authority, even as Tehran's judiciary chief openly advocated swift trials and hangings for over 18,000 detainees amid the regime's bloodiest crackdown since 1979.
Speaking at the White House during the signing of executive orders, Trump stated unequivocally, We've been told that the killing in Iran is stopping—it's stopped, while reassuring that there's no plan for executions, or an execution, or executions, despite Iranian vows to accelerate punishments.
This assertion follows Tuesday's national security consultations involving Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and White House advisors, who weighed diplomatic overtures against prospective military responses to the unrest.
Escalating Death Toll and Regime Retaliation
The Human Rights Activists News Agency documented 2,586 protester deaths by Wednesday, part of protests sparked in late December 2025 by the rial's collapse, hyperinflation exceeding 50 percent, and widespread poverty, with security forces implicated in mass shootings of unarmed crowds under a near-total internet blackout.
Iran's judiciary head Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei urged immediate action in a state television address, warning, If we want to do a job, we should do it now... If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn't have the same effect, positioning rapid executions as essential to deter further dissent.
Revolutionary Guard commander Mohammad Pakpour echoed this defiance, accusing the US and Israel of instigating the violence—without evidence—and promising reprisals at an opportune moment, as reported by Tasnim news agency.
US Posturing and Global Repercussions
Trump's comments build on prior CBS interview threats of very strong action should hangings proceed, including the now-postponed execution of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, while he urged protesters to persist with promises of impending aid.
This rhetoric prompted partial US evacuations from Qatar's Al Udeid Air Base by Wednesday evening and the UK's embassy closure in Tehran, with Britain shifting to remote operations after withdrawing its ambassador and staff for safety.
G7 allies, including Prime Minister Keir Starmer, condemned the sickening repression and mulled sanctions, as Iran summoned European envoys and faced accusations from Amnesty International of unprecedented unlawful killings.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
