US claims Iran halted 800 executions after Trump warning

White House signals pressure-first approach on Iran

The White House on Friday said President Donald Trump is keeping “all options on the table” as Washington weighs its response to Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests. The statement came alongside a claim by the US administration that Iranian authorities halted hundreds of planned executions following pressure from the president.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president had been briefed that executions scheduled to take place had been stopped, even as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high.

.@PressSec: "What I will say, with respect to Iran, is that the President and his team have communicated to the Iranian regime that if the killing continues there will be grave consequences … 800 executions that were scheduled and supposed to take place yesterday were halted.” pic.twitter.com/M5IKe5xkaE

— Department of State (@StateDept) January 15, 2026

Claim of halted executions highlighted

Addressing reporters, Leavitt said the administration had been informed that around 800 executions planned in Iran were halted. She described the development as a direct outcome of pressure exerted by President Trump, adding that the administration had warned Tehran of “grave consequences” if violence against demonstrators continued.

She said the president was closely monitoring developments inside Iran and had made clear that the US response would depend on how the situation unfolds on the ground.

Military option not ruled out

Leavitt reiterated that President Trump had not removed any response from consideration, including military action. When questioned about reports suggesting deliberations over possible strikes and the role of Gulf countries, she rejected what she termed speculative reporting.

She said decisions of this nature rest with the president and a small circle of advisers, and declined to outline any specific timeline or trigger for action.

The White House later said the president continued to receive regular updates on the situation in Iran, a position echoed in reporting by Reuters.

Fresh sanctions announced

Alongside its warnings, the US announced a new round of sanctions targeting Iranian officials accused of directing or supporting the suppression of protests. Among those sanctioned is the secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security, whom the US Treasury Department accused of being among the first to call for the use of violence against demonstrators.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control also designated 18 individuals and entities as part of the latest measures.

Background to the unrest

Protests across Iran began on December 28, triggered by the sharp fall of the Iranian rial and mounting economic pressure. The unrest has been fuelled by public anger over inflation, unemployment, and the broader impact of international sanctions linked in part to Iran’s nuclear programme.

The US administration has framed its actions as part of a broader effort to deter further violence while maintaining pressure on Iran’s leadership.