Trump Claims Execution Plans for Eight Iranian Women Halted
President Donald Trump announced that he has secured a deal with Iran to stop the execution of eight women who were reportedly involved in protests against the government. These women had been caught up in a larger crackdown on demonstrations earlier this year, which saw numerous deaths and arrests; however, the official death counts vary significantly.
In a statement, Trump expressed gratitude, stating, “I am extremely grateful that Iran and its leaders have respected my request as President of the United States.” He proclaimed, “Very good news! We just received word that eight female protesters scheduled to be executed tonight in Iran will no longer be killed.” He continued to assert that while four of the women would be released right away, the other four would serve a month in prison.
He reiterated his thanks, highlighting the Iranian leadership’s consideration in this matter. The Trump administration has been in talks with remnants of the Iranian regime in the wake of severe military actions by both the U.S. and Israel.
On the same day, Trump encouraged Iran’s government to avoid harming women as a gesture of goodwill amid ongoing peace negotiations. His comments followed a social media post from a pro-Israel activist, which showcased images of the eight women, including Vita Hemati, who has been accused of violence during a protest.
Recently, Trump also extended a ceasefire with Iran to foster a “unified offer” for peace talks. Shortly after, Iran announced the seizure of two tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
A Norwegian human rights organization reported that two of the women had already been released on bail as of late March, while Iranian judicial authorities denied that any of the women faced the death penalty. Amnesty International indicated that the Iranian regime has engaged in “mass illegal killings” on a previously unprecedented scale to quash protests, with former leader Ali Khamenei admitting that “thousands” had died. Some estimates suggest the death toll could be as high as 20,000, significantly more than the official figure of about 3,000.
