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US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he has been notified that Iran has stopped killing civilians and will not carry out planned executions, as widespread anti-government protests continue to grip the Islamic Republic and major airlines suspend flights to Israel over fears of potential military conflict.
"I have been informed that the killing of civilians in Iran has stopped and there will be no executions or death sentences," Trump said, though he provided no details about who delivered the message or whether Iranian officials had made any formal commitment.
The announcement came hours after Iran's judiciary chief vowed to expedite trials for detained protesters, signaling the government's determination to crush dissent despite mounting international pressure and Trump's repeated warnings against using lethal force.
Iran's judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei said action against detained demonstrators must be taken immediately to maintain its deterrent effect during a visit to a detention facility Wednesday, according to state television.
"If it is delayed by two or three months, it will not have the same impact," Mohseni-Ejei said. "What needs to be done must be done quickly."
Protests erupted in Tehran and other cities in late December over deteriorating economic conditions and have since evolved into one of the most serious challenges to Iran's leadership in years. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency estimates at least 2,500 people, including protesters and security personnel, have been killed, with more than 1,100 injured and over 18,000 detained. Iranian authorities have not released official casualty or arrest figures, and these estimates have not been independently verified.
Iranian officials have accused the United States and Israel of backing what they characterize as riots and terrorism, allegations both countries deny.
Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran against using lethal force and urged Iranians to continue protesting. On Tuesday, he cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials until what he called the senseless killing of protesters stops, writing on his Truth Social platform that help is on its way.
"To all Iranian patriots, keep protesting," Trump wrote following a speech in Michigan, urging demonstrators to take over institutions and warning that those responsible for violence would pay a very big price.
The president has hinted at possible military action against Iran, including potential strikes, amid the ongoing protests and after announcing new tariffs on countries trading with Tehran.
Iranian officials have responded with strong warnings that US military bases in the region would be targeted if Iran is attacked. In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Iran's UN envoy accused Trump of inciting violence and threatening military intervention. Ali Larijani, Iran's top security official, dismissed Trump's statements and called him one of the main killers of Iranians.
German aviation group Lufthansa instructed its employees to prepare to leave Israel and announced it would cancel all flights to and from the country starting Thursday as tensions escalate over potential US military action against Iran, according to Israeli media reports.
The airline, which operates daily flights out of Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, joins a growing list of European carriers suspending service to Israel. Italian flag carrier ITA Airways canceled its evening flight from Rome to Tel Aviv, while Austrian Airlines, part of the Lufthansa Group, also scrapped its scheduled evening service.
Lufthansa's decision to evacuate staff represents a significant escalation beyond temporary flight suspensions. The coordinated cancellations by multiple European airlines suggest heightened concern about regional security, though the carriers have not indicated how long the suspensions will remain in effect.
Several countries have urged their citizens to immediately leave Iran as tensions continue to escalate.
Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Wednesday it is at the peak of defensive readiness amid escalating tensions with Washington. Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Mousavi, commander of the IRGC's aerospace division, said Iran's missile stockpiles have increased and all damage sustained during last June's 12-day war with Israel has been fully repaired. During that conflict, Iran fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel after Israeli strikes killed senior Iranian military commanders and scientists, and the United States bombed three Iranian nuclear sites.
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