A day after appealing to Iranian leaders, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran halted the planned execution of eight women following his direct intervention. The episode comes at a delicate moment when both countries are hovering on the edge of potential negotiations.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had been informed that the women would no longer face execution, presenting the move as a direct result of his request. “Very good news! I have just been informed that the eight women protestors who were going to be executed tonight in Iran will no longer be killed. Four will be released immediately, and four will be sentenced to one month in prison,” he wrote.
He added, “I very much appreciate that Iran, and its leaders, respected my request, as President of the United States, and terminated the planned execution.”
Earlier, Trump had shared images of the women and urged Iranian authorities to release them. “To the Iranian leaders I would greatly appreciate the release of these women,” he wrote. “Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations!!!”
He framed the appeal not only as a humanitarian gesture but also as a possible opening step towards rebuilding trust ahead of any talks between the two sides.
IRAN RUBBISHES CLAIMS OF EXECUTIONS
Iran, however, rejected Trump’s version of events. In a statement published by its official news agency Mizan Online, authorities said, “Trump was misled once again by fake news.”
The statement added, “The women who were claimed to be on the verge of execution, some of them have been released, while others face charges that, if convictions are upheld, would at most result in imprisonment.”
Human rights groups have also offered a different version of the story. According to a Norway-based monitor, at least two of the women — Golnaz Naraghi and Venus Hosseininejad — had already been released on bail weeks before Trump’s post.
Several of the women shown in the circulating images are reported to have been detained during anti-government protests. Among those named are Bita Hemmati, who faces multiple charges including alleged involvement in violent protest activities, as well as Diana Taherabadi, 16, who has been charged with “waging war against God,” which is a capital offence under Iranian law. Mahboubeh Shabani has been accused of assisting injured protesters. Details surrounding other detainees haven’t been verified yet.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of unrest in Iran which began in late December, where tens of thousands have been detained during anti-regime protests and a brutal crackdown has left thousands dead. While official figures are much lower, independent estimates suggest the toll could run into the tens of thousands, with some reports putting it above 30,000.
