Trump Urges Iran to Halt Executions of Women
President Donald Trump has called on the Iranian government to stop the planned executions of eight women, and it appears that leaders in Tehran have complied with his request.
This appeal was described by Trump as a significant diplomatic gesture that could pave the way for future negotiations between his administration and Iranian officials.
The efforts came after a social media post from activist Eyal Yacoby, which included images of the eight women facing imminent execution, urging the president to intervene if there were to be any progress in peace talks.
Not all of the women were identified in Yacoby’s post, but one notable name was Bita Hemmati. She participated in the widespread anti-regime protests that took place across Iran in late 2025. The National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) claims that Hemmati has been charged with capital offenses, including using explosives and attacking security forces. She was arrested alongside her husband and two neighbors, with all reportedly sentenced to death.
Others on the list include 16-year-old Diana Taherabadi and 33-year-old Mahboubeh Shabani, both facing the death penalty for “waging war against God.” Human rights organization Hengo has reported that Shabani’s charges relate to her attempts to provide medical assistance to injured protesters.
The situation in Iran following the protests spurred by economic issues is grave, though exact figures on the casualties remain unclear due to internet blackouts imposed by the government. Officially, around 3,000 deaths have been acknowledged, but some estimates by human rights groups suggest the toll could be as high as 30,000.
According to the Human Rights News Agency (HRANA), over 50,000 individuals were arrested during the peak of the protests earlier this year.
Among those arrested were Dr. Golnaz Naraghi, who was reportedly coerced into signing a confession in Qarchak prison, and Venus Hosseininejad, whose family alerted the authorities. She claimed to have been forced to confess on television to accusations of crimes against the state.
Ghazal Gharandari, Pana Movahedi, and Ensieh Nejat were also named among the women affected by the potential executions.
On his Truth social platform, Trump expressed his gratitude to Iranian leaders for halting the executions. He emphasized that this would be a favorable start to upcoming negotiations.
In another message, Trump highlighted “very good news” regarding his request to Iran.
He announced that the eight women previously scheduled for execution would not be killed. Four would be released immediately, while the others would face a month of imprisonment. Trump expressed his appreciation for Iran’s compliance with his request.
This announcement followed an extension of a two-week ceasefire with Iran as the two countries continue their negotiations.
However, Iranian judiciary officials insisted that the women were never truly at risk of execution. They labeled reports of imminent hangings as “fake news,” claiming that some had not even been sentenced to death and were released on bail prior to the diplomatic intervention.
The official Iranian judiciary website criticized the reports, asserting that while some women have been released, others may face charges that would lead to imprisonment rather than execution.
Despite these claims, various international human rights organizations and activists have challenged Tehran’s statements. While the Iranian judiciary maintains that there was no imminent danger, these groups contend that the order for executions was real and that the regime’s response was influenced by global pressure.
The NCRI asserts that the Iranian judiciary’s dismissal of the situation as “fake news” is a common tactic to maintain credibility during delicate diplomatic discussions.
