Trump signals military strikes on hold after Iran cancels executions
US is considering military action against Iran’s oppression
Fox News senior foreign affairs correspondent Greg Palkot and former Bush foreign policy advisor Dan Senor join ‘America Newsroom’ to discuss the possible US response to the mass protests in Iran and the ongoing transition of power in Venezuela.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Donald Trump signaled why he is postponing military strikes against Iran amid nationwide protests after claiming the country had canceled executions of hundreds of Iranians.
Asked whether Arab and Israeli officials had “convinced” him not to attack Iran, Trump told reporters on Friday that they had convinced him, citing the canceled executions. Trump expressed similar sentiments on social media on Friday.
“I have great respect for the fact that all executions planned to take place yesterday (more than 800) were canceled by the Iranian government. Thank you!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social Friday.
US President Donald Trump makes a statement during his meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani at the White House Oval Office on November 21, 2025 in Washington DC. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The statement echoes what White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Thursday about the canceled executions. He argued that all options are on the table regarding relations with Iran.
TRUMP ANNOUNCED THE ‘FINAL’ 25 PERCENT TARIFF FOR COUNTRIES DOING BUSINESS WITH THE IRANIAN REGIME
“What I will say regarding Iran is that the president and his team have communicated to the Iranian regime that there will be serious consequences if the killing continues,” Leavitt told reporters Thursday. he said. “And the President got a message yesterday to all of you and to the whole world, declaring that the killings and executions will stop. And the president understands today that 800 executions that were scheduled and were supposed to happen yesterday have been stopped.”
Demonstrators burn a poster depicting Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a rally in support of anti-government protests in Iran, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Holon, Israel. (Ohad Zwigenberg/Associated Press)
It is unclear whether Trump was referring to the 800 executions that have already been canceled in his post or whether 800 executions were canceled two days in a row.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on how many executions have been canceled or whether military strikes are now completely off the table.
Fox News Digital reached out to a spokesperson for the Islamic Republic of Iran’s permanent mission to the United Nations for additional comment but did not immediately receive a response.
Demonstrators burn photos of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in front of the Iranian embassy during a rally in support of nationwide protests in Iran on January 12, 2026 in London. (Toby Melville/Reuters)
Protests broke out across Iran in December 2025 in response to the economic challenges facing the country, as well as a referendum against Iran’s theocratic regime.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
More than 2,000 people, including at least nine children, have died in recent protests, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported on Tuesday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
