‘It’s Stopped’: Trump Says Iran Is Halting Killings Even As Tehran Vows Public Trials For Protesters

Last Updated:January 15, 2026, 02:28 IST

Trump claimed Iran has halted killings and does not plan executions, citing information he said came from “good authority”.

Trump

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (local time) said he had been told that killings in Iran were stopping and that there were no plans for executions, according to a statement shared on social media.

“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 comments come amid heightened tensions over Iran’s crackdown on protesters, with rights groups reporting thousands of deaths in recent weeks. Western governments have repeatedly condemned the violence and warned Tehran against executions linked to the unrest.

The heightened alert follows reports that the United States has begun withdrawing some personnel from key military bases in the region as a precaution. A US official told Reuters that the move was driven by rising tensions after Iran warned neighbouring countries that American bases could be targeted if Washington carries out strikes.

The news agency also reported that two European officials believe US military intervention could come within the next 24 hours, while an Israeli official said it appeared President Donald Trump had decided to intervene, though the scope and timing remain unclear.

Rights groups have reported sharply differing death tolls from Iran’s crackdown on protests. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said at least 2,586 people have been killed, while Norway-based Iran Human Rights said the death toll has reached at least 3,428, adding that more than 10,000 people have been arrested.

‘Verified Videos Show Protesters Targeted’

Meanwhile, Amnesty said Iranian authorities have carried out mass unlawful killings on an unprecedented scale during the ongoing crackdown on protesters. The rights group said its findings were based on verified video evidence and eyewitness accounts.

In a statement, Amnesty said security forces positioned on streets and rooftops, including on residential buildings, mosques and police stations, repeatedly fired rifles and shotguns loaded with metal pellets at unarmed protesters, often targeting their heads and torsos.

The organisation said the violence reflected a coordinated nationwide escalation in the use of lethal force since January 8, when mass protests erupted across Iran and an internet shutdown was imposed.

News world ‘It’s Stopped’: Trump Says Iran Is Halting Killings Even As Tehran Vows Public Trials For Protesters

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