Human Rights, Justice & Society
Trump says Iran protester executions must stop
US President Donald Trump said on August 25 that Iran must stop executing people allegedly linked to mass protests earlier this year.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iran was “killing protesters, even when they are not protesting” and called the situation “a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions”. He also claimed the “failing Islamic Republic of Iran” was not paying large parts of its military.
It was not immediately clear what prompted the post. Executions have increased since the Middle East war began on February 28, after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The protests began in late December over the cost of living and grew into wider anti-government demonstrations that peaked on January 8 and 9. Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths but blamed the violence on “terrorist acts” they said were orchestrated by the United States and Israel.
Rights groups based abroad recorded a higher death toll and said Iranian security forces had fired on demonstrators.
Earlier this month, more than 30 countries signed a joint letter condemning Iran's executions of protesters and use of the death penalty. The United States, where capital punishment remains legal, did not sign the letter.
Since then, at least three more people have been executed in Iran on charges linked to the protests.
Update
Trump's post followed a steady increase in executions since the war began on February 28, though what prompted the post was unclear.
More than 30 countries signed a letter earlier this month condemning Iran's executions of protesters and use of the death penalty; the United States did not sign it.
At least three more people have been executed in Iran since that letter on charges related to the protests.
Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths during the protests and blamed terrorist acts orchestrated by the United States and Israel, while rights groups based abroad recorded a higher toll and said security forces fired on demonstrators.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 12:04:48 UTC.
Update
Trump made the comments on Truth Social on August 25.
He expressed outrage at what the item describes as a mounting number of executions in Iran of people allegedly involved in historic mass protests earlier this year before the war began.
Trump claimed Iran was killing protesters “even when they are not protesting” and called it a humanitarian crisis.
Source note: AFP news report published on 25 August 2026 at 11:40:48 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
It was not immediately clear what new information prompted Trump's August 25 post.
The death toll from the protests is disputed between Iranian authorities and rights groups based abroad.
Source
AFP news report published on .