US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday evening that he had been told that killings in Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests were subsiding, and that he believed there was currently no plan for large-scale executions.
“We were told that the killing in Iran is stopping, and there’s no plan for executions,” he said in the Oval Office.
“The killing has stopped. The executions have stopped. There’s no plan for executions or an execution. I’ve been told that on good authority. We’ll find out about it. I’m sure if it happens, I’ll be very upset.”
Earlier on Wednesday, two European officials told Reuters that US military intervention in Iran could come in the next 24 hours.
"All the signals are that a US attack is imminent, but that is also how this administration behaves to keep everyone on their toes. Unpredictability is part of the strategy," a Western military official told Reuters later on Wednesday.
An unnamed Israeli official also said it appeared Trump had decided to intervene, though the scope and timing remained unclear.
Trump threatens Iran over Soltani death sentence
Trump's comments come after he told CBS News that the United States would “take very strong action” if the regime begins executing anti-government protesters.
“We don’t want to see what’s happening in Iran happen… When they start killing thousands of people. And now you’re telling me about hanging. We’ll see how that works out for them. It’s not going to work out good,” he said.
This was said in reference to 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, who was sentenced to death by the Islamic Republic regime. Soltani, who was arrested at his home on January 8, faces death without having received a trial.
This is a developing story.