Iran Suspends Execution of 800 Protesters Amid U.S. and Allied Pressure: White House

The White House has claimed that Iran suspended the execution of 800 detainees involved in anti-government protests. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Thursday that this decision came as a direct result of pressure from President Donald Trump and his Gulf allies.

According to Leavitt, the Iranian authorities withdrew the execution orders just before they were scheduled to be carried out. Tehran has yet to confirm or deny these claims.

While a tense calm has settled over Tehran and other major cities after days of violent unrest, the war of words between Washington and Tehran continues. At the UN Security Council, U.S. representative Mike Waltz reiterated that military options remain on the table if the crackdown persists. Conversely, a high-ranking Saudi official suggested that mediation by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Egypt successfully dissuaded President Trump from launching an immediate military strike on Iran.

The unrest is largely fueled by Iran's catastrophic economic situation. The Iranian Rial has plunged to a historic low, with the exchange rate hitting approximately 994,055 Rials per US Dollar. This economic collapse triggered nationwide strikes starting December 28. Human rights organizations estimate that over 10,000 people have been detained and the death toll could range between 500 and 2,000 since the protests began across 31 provinces.