By John Q. Hosedrinker 
President Trump stated Wednesday, citing “good authority,” that executions in Iran have stopped, despite Tehran indicating fast trials and executions for detained protesters. The president did not specify the source of his information, only describing it as coming from “very important sources on the other side.” Trump’s claims come after promising aid to protesting Iranians, but he offered no details on potential U.S. action. Iranian officials have since signaled a “decisive response” to any U.S. or Israeli intervention, while reports from a U.S.-based human rights agency detail thousands of deaths.
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Trump claims killing of Iran protesters “has stopped” even as Tehran signals executions ahead, and honestly, the whole thing just stinks of something fishy. It’s hard not to feel like this is all a carefully constructed illusion, a political maneuver that might be leading us down a very dangerous path. Knowing the history, it’s not too wild to suspect that the potential for military action is being masked here. It’s almost like a head fake, a calculated move to lull everyone into a false sense of security.
Trump claims killing of Iran protesters “has stopped,” but the situation on the ground paints a completely different picture. We are aware of the reports of executions and the ongoing efforts to silence dissent, and the idea that the killings have simply ceased feels like a cruel joke. It is even more concerning that this statement is accompanied by a signal of tacit support or acceptance of the current regime.
The comments really hit home when they touch on the potential consequences for the protesters themselves. The thought that family and friends could be targeted based on camera footage is just horrifying. And yet, this is what is on the line. It’s a somber thought that perhaps the only way the killings could have “stopped” is if the protestors have been silenced entirely, either through death or complete surrender.
We’ve heard the familiar refrain before. This feels like another instance where the administration is willing to let the protesters die, almost celebrating it, while simultaneously seeking some sort of “peace prize”. The entire dynamic, again, plays out the same way. It’s hard to shake the feeling that this is just a delay tactic, a way to appear strong without actually taking meaningful action.
Trump claims killing of Iran protesters “has stopped,” but here’s where it really gets concerning: the implications. If the government is overthrown in Iran, that’s not necessarily a clean slate. It’s a complex situation with long-term consequences that someone, eventually, will have to deal with. And that suggests a commitment.
It is important to remember that these protests are happening for very different reasons than any potential actions the US might take. To somehow conflate the two, to try and co-opt the movement, seems almost disrespectful to the people risking their lives on the streets of Iran.
The administration’s tactics are, frankly, becoming predictable. It’s hard to ignore the stark contrast between how the administration reacts to protests within Iran versus protests on American soil. This kind of hypocrisy is, unfortunately, nothing new.
Trump claims killing of Iran protesters “has stopped,” and it’s difficult to know what to believe at this point. Considering past statements, it is almost a guarantee that any future pronouncements will be, at best, misleading, and at worst, downright lies. The administration’s credibility in this area is in tatters, to put it mildly.
Ultimately, Trump claims killing of Iran protesters “has stopped,” but the core of the issue remains: the well-being of the Iranian people and the fate of their protests. To ignore the signals from Tehran, to downplay the possibility of further violence, feels like a betrayal of those who are fighting for their freedom. It’s a sad situation and one that we must continue to watch with an open mind, as well as an open heart.