WASHINGTON, D.C. April 21, 2026 — President Donald J. Trump has issued a direct public appeal to Iranian leaders, calling for the immediate release of eight women reportedly facing execution by the Islamic Republic. He described their freedom as a potential goodwill gesture and “a great start” to upcoming negotiations between the United States and Iran.
In a statement posted Tuesday afternoon on the official White House X account (@WhiteHouse), Trump said:
“To the Iranian leaders, who will soon be in negotiations with my representatives: I would greatly appreciate the release of these women. I am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so. Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations!!!”
— President Donald J. Trump
The post was accompanied by a collage of eight photographs showing the women in question.
According to human rights activists and reports cited in the original advocacy post that prompted the president’s statement, the women were arrested in connection with anti-regime protests. They include 16-year-old Diana Taherabadi and others identified as: Bita Hemmati, Ghazal Ghalandari, Golnaz Naraghi, Venus Hossein Nejad, Panah Movahedi, Ensieh Nejati, and Mahboubeh Shabani.
The appeal comes amid heightened international scrutiny of Iran’s human rights record, particularly its use of the death penalty against protesters and political dissidents. Iran has faced repeated criticism from Western governments and advocacy groups for carrying out executions, including those involving women and minors.
President Trump framed the request as a humanitarian measure that could set a positive tone for diplomatic talks. The White House has not released further details on the timing, location, or agenda of the anticipated negotiations.
The statement quickly drew widespread attention online, with many Iranian opposition voices and human rights supporters praising the president for spotlighting the women’s plight. Others noted the broader context of ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions and reported ceasefire discussions.
As of Tuesday evening, there has been no immediate public response from Iranian officials to Trump’s appeal.
This marks the latest instance of the Trump administration using public diplomacy to address human rights concerns in negotiations with adversarial nations. Life News Agency will continue to monitor developments.
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