In a revealing press briefing on the White House lawn Friday, President Donald Trump asserted that his decision to withhold military action against Iran was entirely self-determined, contradicting reports of intensive diplomatic lobbying by Middle Eastern allies. The president specifically denied that conversations with Arab or Israeli officials influenced his calculus, stating emphatically: “Nobody convinced me, I convinced myself.”
Trump identified a singular development as having substantial impact on his decision-making process: Iran’s cancellation of planned executions of protestors. The president claimed Tehran had scheduled “800 hangings” that were subsequently called off, though he provided no evidence to substantiate this specific figure.
The context for these statements stems from widespread anti-government demonstrations that have engulfed Iran since late December. What began as economic protests in Tehran’s bazaar has evolved into a broad movement challenging the country’s clerical establishment that has governed since the 1979 revolution. According to human rights organizations, security forces have killed thousands of participants in the unrest, with estimates ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 fatalities.
This disclosure comes amid reports of frantic diplomatic efforts led by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman aimed at persuading the Trump administration to exercise restraint. Throughout the two-week crisis, the president had repeatedly threatened military intervention to support Iranian protestors, creating heightened tensions in the region.
The developments have prompted international responses, with New Zealand and Slovakia temporarily closing their embassies in Tehran and withdrawing diplomatic staff, reflecting growing concerns about regional stability and security conditions in Iran.