The White House, under President Donald Trump, announced that Iran had halted approximately 800 planned executions following direct warnings from Washington regarding Tehran's crackdown on widespread anti-government protests. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Thursday, January 15, 2026, that President Trump understood these executions, which were reportedly scheduled for the previous day, had been stopped. The administration had cautioned Iran of "grave consequences" if the killing of demonstrators continued, emphasizing that "all options remain on the table" for the president, including potential military action. However, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi publicly denied any plans to execute protesters, dismissing such reports as part of a "misinformation campaign" and stating that "hanging is out of the question." Critically, Iranian authorities had not publicly announced plans for 800 executions, leading some reports to highlight a lack of independent confirmation for the White House's specific figure. The White House's claim followed a period of escalating tension marked by significant anti-government protests across Iran, which human rights groups reported had led to a brutal crackdown resulting in thousands of deaths and arrests. For instance, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) cited at least 3,428 protester deaths. Amidst these developments, Gulf allies, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman, reportedly engaged in urgent diplomatic efforts to dissuade the US from military intervention, fearing regional repercussions. The US also imposed fresh sanctions on Iranian officials accused of orchestrating the violent suppression of dissent. Despite the reported halt in executions, the situation on the ground in Iran remained volatile, with Washington closely monitoring developments.