US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Iran’s leadership had cancelled planned executions of hundreds of detained protesters. He publicly thanked Tehran, saying the decision marked an important shift during the ongoing unrest.

“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 wrote on his Truth Social platform.

His remarks came as protests continue across Iran and security forces maintain a heavy presence on the streets.

Signs of slowdown in crackdown

Earlier in the week, Trump said violence linked to Iran’s crackdown appeared to be easing. Speaking at an Oval Office event on Wednesday, he said he believed Iran was moving away from large-scale executions of protesters.

Trump said “very important sources on the other side" had indicated a reduction in killings and a change in approach by Iranian authorities. At the same time, he warned that the United States was still watching developments closely.

He did not rule out US military action, citing rising tensions in the Middle East and repeated warnings issued by Washington.

Protests pose major challenge to Iran

The demonstrations are widely viewed as the most serious internal threat faced by Iran’s clerical leadership since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Protesters have demanded the removal of the government and clashed with security forces in several cities.

Iranian officials say more than 2,000 people have died since protests began on December 28. Human rights groups, however, estimate the toll to be above 3,500. Some reports suggest the number could be even higher, with certain estimates placing it as high as 20,000. These figures remain disputed.

Iran disputes death toll figures

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected the higher estimates in an interview with Fox News. He said the death toll was only “hundreds" and described the figures released by overseas rights groups as an “exaggeration."

He also called the reports a “misinformation campaign" aimed at pushing US President Donald Trump to carry out his threat of striking Iran if protesters were killed.

Trump denies outside pressure

Trump also dismissed claims by Gulf officials that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman had persuaded him not to launch an attack on Iran.

“Nobody convinced me — I convinced myself," Trump told reporters on Friday as he left the White House for Florida. “They didn’t hang anyone. They cancelled the hangings. That had a big impact."

Uncertain path ahead

While Trump’s comments suggest a temporary easing of tensions, protests inside Iran continue and international scrutiny remains intense. The situation remains fluid, with uncertainty over whether Iran’s reported shift will hold or if further escalation could follow.