The White House stated on the 15th that, due to pressure from President Trump, Iran has suspended the execution of 800 protesters. Trump had threatened to take military action against Iran over its bloody crackdown on demonstrators, but his Persian Gulf allies appear to have changed his mind.
Iran recently saw one of the largest anti-government protests. However, after the authorities suppressed the movement and cut off internet access for a week, the wave of demonstrations has already weakened.
The Norway-based non-governmental organization "Iran Human Rights" stated on the 14th that Iranian security forces have killed at least 3,428 protesters. The organization also warned that the final death toll will be much higher.
White House: All Options Remain on the Table
Although Washington has temporarily held back from taking military action, the White House said on the 15th: "For the President, all options remain on the table."
White House Press Secretary Levitt told reporters: "Today, the President learned that the 800 executions originally scheduled for yesterday have been suspended."
She said that Trump had warned the authorities in Tehran that if they continued killing demonstrators, they would face "severe consequences."
CNN: Trump Was Close to Taking Military Action
According to a report by CNN quoting sources familiar with the matter, the Trump administration was once close to taking military action against Iran, mainly triggered by Trump's strong reaction to Iran's execution of protesters.
Sources revealed that Trump watched footage of past executions in Iran during a meeting at the White House and learned of Tehran's plan to execute well-known protester Soltani, which greatly disturbed him and led him to consider launching a limited military strike to pressure Iran.