Iran backs down on 800 executions after Trump's warning, confirms White House

Iran halted plans to carry out 800 executions after pressure from US President Donald Trump, the White House said on Thursday, as the administration warned that military action remains an option amid Tehran’s violent crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests that have killed more than 2,600 people, according to human rights groups.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump and his team had delivered a direct warning to Iranian officials, linking the planned executions to what Washington described as violent repression of demonstrators.

“The president understands today that 800 executions that were scheduled and supposed to take place yesterday were halted,” Leavitt told reporters during a briefing. “All options remain on the table for the president.”

The confirmation from the White



House came hours after the US imposed fresh sanctions on five Iranian officials accused of orchestrating a violent crackdown on protesters. Washington also initiated steps to track financial transfers by Iranian leaders to overseas banks, escalating pressure on Tehran amid ongoing unrest, Reuters reported.

The Press Secretary said Trump had warned Tehran of “grave consequences” if killings connected to the protests continued.

According to Leavitt, Trump has been closely monitoring developments inside Iran and received assurances from Iranian officials that executions and killings would stop.

“The president and his team have communicated to the Iranian regime that if the killing continues, there will be grave consequences,” she said, adding that Trump had been told “killing and executions” would be halted.