Trump Asserts Iran Has Ceased Executions, Cites Unnamed Sources
US President Donald Trump made a surprising claim on Wednesday, January 14, stating that Iran has halted plans for executions. Speaking at the White House during a signing ceremony for executive orders and legislation, Trump declared that he received this information from reliable sources.
"We've been told that the killing in Iran is stopping – it's stopped – it's stopping," Trump said. "And there's no plan for executions, or an execution, or executions — so I've been told that on good authority."
The President did not reveal who provided this information or offer any evidence to support his statement. When questioned about potential US actions in response to the situation, Trump gave vague responses.
US Response Remains Unclear as Trump Expresses Hope
"We're going to watch it and see what the process is," Trump said about monitoring developments in Iran. "But we were given a very good statement by people that are aware of what's going on."
Trump added, "I hope it's true. Who knows?" This uncertainty contrasts with his initial confident assertion about the cessation of executions.
The President has consulted with his national security team, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They are reportedly developing various options, ranging from diplomatic measures to potential military strikes.
Iranian Officials Signal Continuation of Harsh Measures
Despite Trump's claims, Iranian authorities have signaled they intend to continue harsh measures against protesters. Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei made concerning statements in a video shared by state television.
"If we want to do a job, we should do it now," Mohseni-Ejei said. "If we want to do something, we have to do it quickly. If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn't have the same effect. If we want to do something, we have to do that fast."
Iranian paramilitary commander Mohammad Pakpour also made threatening remarks, accusing the United States and Israel of instigating the protests. "Those countries will receive the response in the appropriate time," Pakpour warned.
Human Toll of the Crackdown Continues to Rise
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports alarming statistics about the crackdown in Iran. According to their data, at least 2,586 people have been killed during the protests and government response.
More than 18,000 people are reportedly detained, with many facing the prospect of fast trials and potential executions. These numbers highlight the severity of the situation despite Trump's claims of improvement.
International Response and Evacuation Concerns
Amid fears of escalating conflict following Trump's warnings about potential military action, some US personnel at a military base in Qatar received evacuation advisories. They were told to leave by Wednesday evening as tensions mounted.
The situation remains fluid, with conflicting messages coming from Washington and Tehran. While Trump asserts that executions have stopped, Iranian officials continue to signal they will proceed quickly with trials and punishments.
