President Donald Trump has publicly thanked Iranâs leadership after stating that Tehran cancelled the planned executions of over 800 prisonersâa move he claims directly influenced his decision to stand down from a potential military strike.
âIn a message posted to his social media platform on Friday, Trump wrote that he âgreatly respectsâ Iran for calling off the hangings, which had been widely reported amid intense nationwide protests and mounting international pressure.
â"I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday (Over 800 of them), have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran. Thank you!" Trump posted.
âA Surprising Pivot
âThis marks a dramatic shift in tone from just days ago, when the President warned of âgrave consequencesâ and suggested the U.S. was "locked and loaded" if Iran carried out mass executions. Speaking to reporters as he departed for Mar-a-Lago, Trump emphasized that the decision to de-escalate was his own: âNobody convinced me. I convinced myself.â
âThe Context
âThe situation follows weeks of deadly unrest in Iran that began in late December 2025. While Trump creditâs the "cancellation" for the dip in tensions, the reality on the ground remains murky:
âConflicting Narratives: While Trump cites 800 cancelled hangings, Iranian officials have not publicly confirmed such a specific number or a formal stay of execution for that many individuals.
âMilitary Stance: U.S. assets remain in the region, but the immediate threat of an aerial assault appears to have receded for now.
âDomestic Impact: Human rights groups estimate the death toll from recent crackdowns has exceeded 2,000, even as state media claims "calm" has been restored.
âWORLD WATCH: The streets of Tehran and other major cities remain a powder keg. Despite the President's "rosy" assessment, the underlying issues driving the protestsâeconomic collapse and political frustrationâcontinue to simmer under a heavy security presence.