Great disappointment
Trump: 'I Convinced Myself' Not to Strike Iran, Thanks Regime for Halting Executions
Recent reports indicate that Iran has executed 52 people during the recent unrest, though Trump seems to believe that they have stopped these executions.
U.S. President Donald Trump clarified late Saturday that his decision to hold off on military action against Iran was self-driven, stating, "No one convinced me not to attack Iran, in fact, I convinced myself." He credited Iran's reported cancellation of mass executions as a significant factor, amid questions about whether this signals a genuine de-escalation or another potential deception in the volatile U.S.-Iran standoff.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Trump expressed gratitude to Iran's leadership for halting what he described as 800 planned executions of regime opponents: "I have great respect that all the planned hangings, which were supposed to take place yesterday, were canceled by Iran's leadership. Thank you!"
Speaking to reporters at the White House shortly after, Trump emphasized the influence of this move on his calculus, though he stopped short of committing to long-term intervention on behalf of Iran's protesters, leaving uncertainty about U.S. support for the millions demanding change.
The statements come against a backdrop of regional diplomacy, including a Friday phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. According to the Kremlin, the discussion focused on Middle East stability and the Iranian issue, with Putin outlining Russia's principled approaches to enhance political and diplomatic efforts for security. The leaders agreed to maintain contacts at various levels, and Putin reaffirmed Moscow's readiness to mediate, including facilitating "constructive dialogue" among involved parties.
Putin also spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, positioning himself as a potential intermediary with Israel. Reports suggest Israel has leveraged Putin as a channel for de-escalatory messages to Tehran, including Netanyahu's earlier request, via Russia—that conveyed Israel's lack of interest in escalation. In October 2025, Putin publicly noted receiving signals from Israeli leadership indicating a desire for settlement over confrontation, as quoted by Russia's TASS news agency.
Skeptics, as hinted in the article's title questioning "another deception," point to Iran's history of tactical pauses amid protests, while U.S. military assets continue advancing to the region. Trump has not ruled out future action, with officials stressing that all options remain open if violence resumes.