US President Donald Trump has said he received assurances that the killing of anti-government protesters in Iran has stopped. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also stated that Tehran has no intention of carrying out death sentences against demonstrators.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump said he had been assured that executions of protesters in Iran had been halted and that plans to impose death penalties were no longer being pursued.

His comments came amid heightened tensions in the Middle East over Iran. Earlier the same day, Washington announced the partial withdrawal of US troops from an American military base in Qatar. Trump addressed the media just hours after that announcement.

After previously issuing strong warnings about possible action against Tehran, Trump’s remarks suggested a more restrained approach on the Iran issue. He said he had spoken with what he described as a “very important source” on the Iranian side and that he would continue to monitor developments closely. However, he did not completely rule out the possibility of military action.

“We are watching the process,” Trump said, adding that the US administration had received what he called a “very positive statement” from Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister told Fox News in an interview on Wednesday that there was no plan to execute anti-government protesters. When asked directly about death sentences, Araghchi responded clearly that no hangings were being planned.

From Washington, Al Jazeera correspondent Mike Hanna said Trump’s comments signaled a noticeable softening of tone. He noted that the president appears to be weighing different options after receiving briefings from the National Security Council. According to Hanna, Trump’s latest statements suggest a step back from the military threats he had previously made.

Iran has been experiencing its largest wave of anti-government protests since 2022. What began as demonstrations against inflation and economic hardship quickly evolved into a broader political movement. The protests, which started on December 28, have since spread across much of the country.

According to the US-based organization Human Rights Activists News Agency, at least 2,571 people have been killed during more than two weeks of unrest. The reported death toll includes members of the security forces as well as 12 children. However, independent verification of these figures has been difficult.

Internet access remains heavily restricted in Iran, making it challenging for the outside world to accurately assess the scale of the protests and the number of casualties.

The Iranian government has accused the United States and Israel of fueling the unrest and destabilizing the country.