President Trump Says Iran's Killing Has Been Stopped

JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he had been told the "execution" of anti-government protesters in Iran had been halted.

"We have been told and quite firmly, but we will find out what it all means. But we have been told that the killing in Iran has been stopped. It has been stopped," President Trump told reporters at the White House, as reported by Anadolu (15/1).

"There is no plan for an execution - one or several executions. I have been told this from reliable sources. We will find out about it," he added.

President Trump is known to have repeatedly promised to support the demonstrators in Iran, where the crackdown by the authorities is said to have resulted in an increase in the number of casualties.

"We have been informed by very important sources on the other side, and they say the killing has stopped and the executions will not happen. There should be a lot of executions today, and the executions will not happen, and we will find out. I mean, I will find out after this, you will find out, but we have been officially informed, and I hope it's true. Who knows," Trump said.

Asked if a military strike against Iran was "not possible," President Trump said: "We'll be watching and seeing what happens. But we've been given a very good, very good statement by people that know what's going on."

Iran has been the scene of widespread protests in its 31 provinces, one of the biggest challenges for the ruling clerical regime in more than a decade, which broke out in Tehran's Grand Bazaar on December 28. The unrest has evolved from complaints about Iran's poor economic situation to calls for regime change.

Iranian government officials have accused the US and Israel of supporting what they call "riots" and "terrorism" amid ongoing protests.

Yesterday, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) confirmed the deaths of 2,403 demonstrators, including 12 children, in its latest statement, quoted by The National.

On the other hand, it is said that around 147 security personnel and government supporters were also killed, as well as nine civilians, bringing the total to 2,559.

Meanwhile, state television reported a mass funeral procession in Tehran held by the Iranian government for more than 100 people killed in the protests, including security personnel and "other martyrs".