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President Donald Trump announced that Iran will no longer execute eight women set to be punished for protesting in a post shared on his Truth Social account Wednesday (April 22).
"Very good news! I have just been informed that the eight women protestors who were going to be executed tonight in Iran will no longer be killed," Trump wrote. "Four will be released immediately, and four will be sentenced to one month in prison. I very much appreciate that Iran, and its leaders, respected my request, as President of the United States, and terminated the planned execution. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Trump had previously called on Iranian leaders to release the women in a post shared on his Truth Social account on Tuesday (April 21).
"I am sure that they will respect the fact that you did so," he added. "Please do them no harm! Would be a great start to our negotiations!!!"
Iran's judiciary denied that the women were ever facing execution, claiming, “Trump was misled once again by fake news” and “some of them have been released, while others face charges that, if convictions are upheld, would at most result in imprisonment," via NDTV World.
The claim, however, has been contested, as the National Council of Resistance of Iran had previously shared a news release reporting that Bita Hemmati was set to be the first woman hanged at a date yet to be determined in connection with the protests that began in January, which were stamped out by Iran's government forces. Hemmati is accused by the Islamic regime of using explosives and weapons, throwing objects such as concrete blocks, participating in protests and disrupting national security.
Two of the eight, identified as Golnaz Naraghi, 37, and Venus Hosseininejad, 28, have reportedly been out on bail since late March, according to the Iran Human Rights organization based in Norway via the New York Post. Trump's post announcing the decision on the eight women came hours after he agreed to extend a ceasefire agreement with Iran prior to Wednesday's deadline.