President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Iran has decided not to execute eight women linked to anti-regime protests. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that four of the women will be released immediately, while the remaining four will serve one-month prison sentences. He thanked Iranian leaders for respecting his request, which he made during negotiations over a ceasefire in the Iran war.
The development comes after Trump publicly urged Iran to release the women on Tuesday, ahead of a U.S. delegation's travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, for peace talks. The ceasefire, initially set to expire, was extended by Trump until Iran submits a proposal to end the war.
However, Iran's judiciary disputed Trump's claims, stating that the women were never facing execution. According to Mizan Online, the judiciary's official website, some of the women have been released, while others face charges that, if convictions are upheld, would result in lesser penalties.
The women were reportedly arrested during anti-government protests that erupted in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022. The protests have been met with a harsh crackdown by authorities, with human rights groups reporting hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests.
Trump's intervention marks a shift from his usual confrontational stance toward Iran, which has included demands for the regime to abandon its nuclear program and open the Strait of Hormuz. The ceasefire extension and potential peace talks suggest a temporary de-escalation in tensions between the two nations.