Germany First execution feared in Iran - Trump threatens Tehran
US President Donald Trump has warned the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran against executing participants in the recent mass protests.
14.01.2026, 05:18
SDA
"We will react very harshly," the Republican told the TV station CBS News in Detroit. Trump did not elaborate on his threat. The Iranian judiciary had previously brought the first protest participants to court. The human rights organization Amnesty International warned that the first death sentence could be carried out as early as today. "If they do that, we will act very decisively," said Trump.
Since the protests against the Islamic Republic's authoritarian system of rule began just over two weeks ago, Trump had already threatened Iran several times with US intervention if demonstrators were killed. He has now promised the latter renewed support. Help is on the way. However, it was unclear what he meant by this. On the Truth Social platform, Trump wrote: "Iranian patriots, keep protesting! Take over your institutions!".
Reports: Trump was advised against attack
According to information from US broadcaster NBC News, Israeli and Arab government representatives are said to have advised Trump's government to refrain from attacking Iran for the time being. They are of the opinion that the leadership in Tehran may not yet be sufficiently weakened to be overthrown by a US attack, the broadcaster reported. It cited a current and a former US official, a person familiar with Israel's thinking and two Arab government representatives.
Some would prefer to wait until the leadership in Tehran comes under even more pressure, it said. The situation in Iran is developing rapidly. The stability of the regime could quickly change in one direction or the other. The "Wall Street Journal" reported that Iran's Arab rivals had spoken out to the US government against an attack on Tehran.
Behind the scenes, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar had warned the White House that an attempt to overthrow the Iranian leadership would shake the oil markets and ultimately damage the US economy, Arab officials were quoted as saying. Above all, they feared repercussions in their own countries.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul no longer sees any legitimacy for Iran's leadership. If a "regime" can only shoot down demonstrations by force of arms, you can see that it is "finished", said the CDU politician in the ARD "Tagesthemen" program on the sidelines of his visit to the US. "It is losing all legitimacy. It is losing all legitimacy to govern this country."
Tehran residents report tense calm
Meanwhile, the Iranian capital is tense and calm, as residents reported on the phone after calls abroad were possible again for the first time on Tuesday. The demonstrations have become increasingly smaller since Saturday, they said. Some protesters had wanted the United States to intervene after Trump's threats. "We hear that hundreds of victims - dead and injured - are being brought to hospitals every day. The situation is not good," said a young man on the phone.
The British Guardian reported, citing doctors in Tehran, that the gunshot wounds were mostly to the eyes. The security forces were deliberately shooting at the head and eyes. According to human rights activists, this is a tactic that has already been used in previous protests, the newspaper continued. An ophthalmologist had documented more than 400 eye injuries caused by gunshots in one hospital alone. Many patients had to have their eyes removed.
Trump hints at high number of victims in Iran
According to the Norwegian-based human rights organization Hengaw, at least 2,500 people have died in Iran since the outbreak of the protests. Trump said in the CBS interview that there are various figures on the number of protesters killed. "But it looks like it could be a pretty sizable number. And that's going to mean a lot of problems for them," the president said, referring to the leadership in Tehran.
The protests, triggered by an economic crisis, have developed into a nationwide uprising. There has been serious unrest in cities. These are the most violent mass protests in Iran for years. The state leadership defends the violent crackdown on the demonstrators by claiming that the participants are "terrorists" or "rioters".
First charges against demonstrators
Meanwhile, the country's judiciary has initiated the first charges against arrested demonstrators. They are also accused of "waging war against God" - an offense that can be punished with the death penalty under Islamic law in Iran. The country's judiciary has also handed down death sentences in previous waves of protests.
Meanwhile, the internet remains blocked. People in Iran are therefore heavily reliant on Elon Musk's Starlink satellite service to share videos of the protests with the world. Musk's company SpaceX made the service free of charge for the country, as confirmed to the financial service Bloomberg. However, according to media reports, Iranian authorities managed to partially disrupt reception.
Security forces take action against satellite internet
At the weekend, the authorities also began searching for and confiscating Starlink antennas in western Tehran, the Wall Street Journal quoted the Miaan Group, a US organization that campaigns against internet censorship, as saying. Antennas and receivers for Starlink are banned. Nevertheless, it is estimated that around 20,000 of the terminals have been smuggled into the country. Normal satellite dishes are also officially banned. In several parts of Tehran, the security forces have begun to confiscate these too - an old practice from the pre-Internet era.
