Post by : Badri Ariffin

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he received information indicating that Iran has halted the killing of protesters and postponed executions. He emphasized that the U.S. has yet to verify these claims.

During his remarks at the White House, Trump shared that “significant sources from the region” had informed him that the killings had ceased and that previously scheduled executions for the day would not occur. Nevertheless, he noted that the U.S. would “observe the situation closely” before making any definitive decisions, including regarding military options.

Trump has issued recurrent warnings to Iran in the past days, stating that the U.S. could intervene in support of the Iranian populace following a severe crackdown on widespread protests. Rights organizations reported that the recent unrest has resulted in the deaths of at least 3,428 protesters.

When questioned if U.S. military intervention was off the table, Trump responded, “We’ll monitor the situation and observe how it develops.”

Iran Denies Reports of Executions

In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in an interview with U.S. media that there would be “no executions today or tomorrow.” He accused Israel of inciting chaos within Iran, although he presented no evidence.

Araghchi noted that protests, which began on December 28 primarily due to economic grievances, escalated into violence from January 7 to 10 because of “external provocateurs” aiming for U.S. intervention.

Moreover, Iran’s Justice Minister Amin Hossein Rahimi supported this viewpoint, asserting that following January 7, the demonstrations transitioned from protests to criminal acts, with arrests targeting those engaged in violent behavior.

A human rights organization corroborated that the execution of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, detained amid the protests, will not proceed as was scheduled, based on family information.

International Response Intensifies

Late on Wednesday, the United Nations declared an emergency Security Council meeting to address the unfolding situation in Iran, at the request of the United States.

Iranian officials maintained that the country is “fully in control” and portrayed the circumstances as calm following what they characterized as periods of “terrorist operations.”

Despite these claims, tensions remain elevated. Iran warned it would retaliate forcefully against any U.S. aggression, and a senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remarked how a prior strike on a U.S. base in Qatar demonstrated Iran’s capability for retaliation.

Several nations have taken precautionary actions. Britain temporarily closed its embassy in Tehran, Germany’s Lufthansa avoided Iranian and Iraqi airspace, and U.S. diplomatic personnel in the area were advised to exercise caution.

Rights Advocates Alarmed by Repressive Measures

Rights organizations assert that the Iranian authorities have enacted their most severe repression in years amidst a five-day internet blackout. Amnesty International accused the government of conducting mass unlawful killings on an “unprecedented scale.”

Despite the limited internet access, verified footage surfaced showing bodies wrapped in black bags within a Tehran mortuary as families sought missing loved ones.

Iran Human Rights, an organization based in Norway, reported over 10,000 arrests, with numerous detainees facing charges potentially punishable by death, including “waging war against God.”

These protests are recognized as the most significant since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, raising global alarms regarding human rights, regional stability, and the potential for further escalation.

#Global News