U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran has stepped back from its threat to execute an Iranian protester detained during a violent crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.
"We've been told that the killing in Iran is stopping and it's stopped and it's stopping, and there's no plan for executions or an execution or executions," Trump told reporters, adding that he'll be "very upset" if any do happen.
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Human rights groups had warned that 26-year-old Erfan Soltani was among those scheduled to be executed Wednesday, as the death toll from the protests climbed above 2,500. Trump warned the United States would take “very strong action” if Iran carried out the execution.
Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign plots by Israel and the United States, which they allege are aimed at destabilizing Iran’s government. Rights groups say most of the dead are peaceful demonstrators killed by Iranian forces, although Tehran claims some reported fatalities include members of its security services.
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Meanwhile, the threat of a potential U.S. military intervention persists as diplomatic ties between Washington and Tehran appear to remain shut down. U.S. military aircraft, including fighter jets and refueling planes, have been deployed to regional bases amid the heightened tensions.
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Iranian officials say the country's defenses have improved since an Israeli strike months ago, and have vowed to resist any U.S. military action “to the last drop of blood.”
The status of ongoing protests remains unclear due to internet blackouts. Tehran claims protests against the government are largely over, but Iranian activists say demonstrations continue.
