WASHINGTON D.C April 22, 2026 — President Donald J. Trump announced Wednesday that eight Iranian women arrested during anti-regime protests will not face execution, crediting his direct appeal to Iranian leaders as the catalyst for the change.
In a post on Truth Social and shared by the White House on X, Trump stated: “Very good news! I have just been informed that eight women protestors who were going to be executed tonight in Iran will no longer be killed. Four will be released immediately and four will be given one-month sentences. Thank you to the Iranian leadership for heeding my request from yesterday. This is a great start!”
The announcement came one day after Trump publicly urged Tehran to release the women as a “great start to our negotiations.” In that April 21 message, he wrote: “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!”
The women’s cases were first highlighted by U.S.-based activist Eyal Yakoby, who posted their photographs and claimed the Islamic Republic planned to hang them. Trump reposted Yakoby’s message alongside his appeal.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later told Fox News that the president acted swiftly once the information reached his desk. “Only @POTUS could save the lives of these 8 beautiful Iranian women,” she said.
Iran Denies Executions Were Ever Planned
Iran’s judiciary immediately rejected Trump’s account, calling the original reports “fake news” and insisting no death sentences were scheduled for the women.
In statements carried by state-affiliated outlets including Mizan Online, Iranian officials said Trump “was misled once again by fake news.” They claimed some of the women had already been released prior to Trump’s intervention, while others faced lesser charges that would result in imprisonment at most — not execution. No final death verdicts had been issued for any of the eight, according to the judiciary.
The denial aligns with earlier reporting from outlets such as Anadolu Agency and Iranian state media, which described the claims as unverified or exaggerated. Human rights monitors, however, have documented ongoing executions and death sentences linked to the recent wave of protests in Iran, with at least one woman previously reported as facing capital punishment in separate cases.
Context and Skepticism
The episode unfolds amid heightened U.S.-Iran tensions and reported negotiations. Critics on social media questioned the authenticity of the women’s photos, with some users labeling them AI-generated, though no independent verification of that claim has been confirmed by major outlets.
Iran has faced international criticism for its crackdown on protesters, including mass arrests and executions following widespread demonstrations. Trump’s intervention highlights his administration’s focus on using direct presidential diplomacy on human rights issues as leverage in broader talks.
The White House has not released the names of the women or additional details on their cases. As of Wednesday evening, no independent confirmation from human rights organizations had emerged verifying the exact status change or linking it directly to Trump’s request.
This story is developing. Life News Agency will continue monitoring updates from both U.S. and Iranian sources.
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