Trump says he stopped execution of 8 Iranian women; Iran rejects claim

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his appreciation to the Iranian leadership on Wednesday, claiming in a Truth Social post that Tehran had respected his request to scrap the execution of eight Iranian women. According to the President, four of the women would be released immediately, while the other four would be sentenced to a 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," Trump said.

However, the Iranian judiciary's news agency, Mizan, challenged the President’s account. The agency dismissed the claim as a "lie" in a post on X, stating, "Trump's Empty Hand in the Field Has Led Him to Fabricate Achievements from False News."

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the President's statement during a Fox News interview, claiming he had received "direct word" from the regime that the women's lives would be spared. She described Trump as a "humanitarian at heart" who reached out to Tehran "directly" to intervene.

The dispute comes amid a fragile pause in the ongoing conflict. While President Trump extended the ceasefire on Tuesday, he did not specify a duration, stating he would wait for a proposal from Iran. He, however, added that the U.S. military would continue its naval blockade. The response from Tehran has remained cold; Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X that while Tehran welcomes dialogue, "breaches of commitments and threats" remain significant obstacles.

Leavitt told reporters that the President has not set a firm deadline for a proposal, noting that the timeline will be "dictated by the Commander in Chief." She attributed the delay to "internal division" and a battle between "pragmatists and hardliners" within the Iranian leadership, suggesting the ceasefire extension offers Tehran "flexibility." "The President has not set a firm deadline to receive an Iranian proposal," she said. "Ultimately, the timeline will be dictated by the Commander in Chief and the President of the United States."

Meanwhile, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue to escalate. On Wednesday, Iran fired at three ships and captured two others. When asked if the move violated the ceasefire, Leavitt clarified the administration's position. "No," she said, "Because these were not U.S. ships. These were not Israeli ships. These were two international vessels."