WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Wednesday he had been told “on good authority” that Iran had stopped plans to execute detained protesters, even as Iranian officials publicly called for rapid trials and executions of more than 18,000 people held in the crackdown on nationwide demonstrations.
Trump’s claim, which he acknowledged he could not yet confirm, directly contradicts statements made the same day by Iran’s judiciary chief, who urged swift punishment of detainees. The divergent accounts come as the administration weighs options ranging from diplomacy to military strikes in response to a crackdown the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said has killed at least 2,586 people.
“We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping — it’s stopped — it’s stopping,” Trump said at the White House while signing executive orders and legislation. “And there’s no plan for executions, or an execution, or executions — so I’ve been told that on good authority.”
Trump described his sources only as “very important sources on the other side” and said he would “find out” later whether the information was accurate. “I hope it’s true,” he said. “Who knows?”
When asked whether his statement meant he was not planning to take action against the Iranian government, Trump said: “We’re going to watch it and see what the process is. But we were given a very good statement by people that are aware of what’s going on.”
Iran’s judiciary chief calls for speed
Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, said Wednesday the government must act quickly to punish the more than 18,000 people detained in the protests through rapid trials and executions, according to a video shared by Iranian 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.”
Mohammad Pakpour, commander of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, claimed without providing evidence that the U.S. and Israel instigated the protests and said those countries would “receive the response in the appropriate time,” according to Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency. Iranian officials also warned of a “decisive response” if the U.S. or Israel intervene in the domestic unrest.
U.S. military advisory and options
Some personnel at a key U.S. military base in Qatar were advised to evacuate by Wednesday evening, the Associated Press reported, following Trump’s escalated warnings about potential military action over the killing of demonstrators.
Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and key White House National Security Council officials began meeting the prior Friday to develop options for Trump, ranging from a diplomatic approach to military strikes.
Trump said he had consulted with his national security team on Tuesday about next steps. In a CBS interview aired that day, he had warned Tehran: “If they do such a thing, we will take very strong action.”