Trump demands Iran stop executing protesters, calls crisis 'epic'

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called for an immediate halt to executions in Iran, labeling the ongoing situation a "humanitarian crisis of epic proportions." His statement, made on his Truth Social platform, specifically targets individuals connected to protests that occurred earlier in the year, prior to the outbreak of war.

Trump criticized the "failed Islamic Republic of Iran" for its handling of the situation, noting that the country "does not pay many of its military men, while it kills protesters, even when they are not protesting, on a scale never before seen." The timing of his demand is notable, as it follows the joint U.S. and Israeli attacks that initiated a war, which occurred weeks after Iran violently suppressed widespread protests.

The protests, initially sparked by the high cost of living in late December, rapidly evolved into anti-government demonstrations. Iranian authorities have reported more than 3,000 fatalities, attributing the violence to "terrorist acts" orchestrated by the United States and Israel. Conversely, overseas human rights organizations have documented a significantly higher death toll, asserting that security forces directly fired upon demonstrators.