President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran’s leadership had halted a large number of planned executions of anti-regime protesters, crediting the move with averting what he described as an imminent wave of hangings.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump publicly acknowledged the Iranian government’s decision, writing: “I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday (Over 800 of them), have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran. Thank you!”

Later, while speaking with reporters, Trump was asked whether pressure from Arab or Israeli officials had persuaded him to refrain from launching a military strike against Iran. He rejected that suggestion, responding, “No one convinced me. I convinced myself.”

He went on to emphasize the significance of the reported reversal by Tehran, saying, “You had, yesterday, scheduled, over 800 hangings. They didn’t hang anyone. They cancelled the hangings. That had a big impact,” according to his remarks.

Trump’s comments followed earlier statements made two days prior, when he asserted that the killing of protesters in Iran had stopped at a moment when a potential U.S. military action appeared close. At that time, he told reporters in the Oval Office, “We have been notified pretty strongly that the killing in Iran is stopping, and there’s no plan for executions or an execution.”

He added that the information had come from reliable sources but cautioned that the situation would continue to be monitored. “I’ve been told that in good authority. We’ll find out about it, I’m sure. If it happens, we’ll be very upset.”

Additional details emerged Thursday night from Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, who spoke at the opening session of the 10th Israeli American Council National Summit in Florida. Witkoff said that, acting on Trump’s instructions, the United States had contacted Iranian officials on Wednesday to convey concerns over reports of impending mass executions. “And that’s been shut down, I think, as everyone knows, the President has announced that. He’s the only one in the world who has that indomitable strength that can bend people. I watch it happen. It’s quite remarkable to watch it happen.”

When asked whether he anticipated military action against Iran, Witkoff said he hoped diplomacy would prevail. “Well, I hope there’s a diplomatic resolution. I really do. There are four issues: Nuclear enrichment, missiles, they have to cut back on their inventory, the actual material that they have, which is roughly 2,000 kilograms which is enriched anywhere between 3.67% to 60%, and the proxies, of course.”

{Matzav.com}