Trump praises Iran for cancelling scheduled executions

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Donald Trump said Friday he welcomed Iran’s decision to cancel a large number of scheduled executions.

"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 said on Truth Social.

However, according to local media reports, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, an Iranian cleric, said Friday that protesters in the capital Tehran should face execution.

Trump has repeatedly voiced support for protesters in Iran and sharply criticized Iranian authorities’ handling of the demonstrations, which began on Dec. 28 in Tehran, over the sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial and worsening economic conditions. Demonstrations later spread to several other cities.

The US president previously indicated that military intervention remained a possible option, but lowered the likelihood of a strike after learning that Iranian authorities had canceled some planned executions of protesters.

Later Friday, Trump told the reporters he alone made the decision not to launch a military strike against Iran, rejecting suggestions that foreign leaders influenced his choice.

"Nobody convinced me. I convinced myself," when asked whether Arab and Israeli officials convinced him to not strike Iran.

"You had, yesterday, scheduled, over 800 hangings. They didn't hang anyone. They cancelled the hangings. That had a big impact," he added.