Trump Requests Release of Eight Women Amid Iran Negotiations

Former United States President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he has successfully intervened to stop the execution of eight women who were arrested during protests in Iran. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated: "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. Four will be released immediately, and four will be sentenced to one month in prison." Trump's comments followed his public appeal for the women’s release, where he expressed appreciation for any actions taken by Iranian leadership. Tehran, however, refuted Trump’s assertions, with officials from the Iranian judiciary labelling them as misleading, stating that the narrative is based on fake news. In an official communication reported by Iran’s state media, the judiciary stated: "Trump was misled once again by fake news. The women who were claimed to be on the verge of execution, some of them have been released, while others face charges that, if convictions are upheld, would at most result in imprisonment." Various rights organizations have been calling attention to the situation of these women. Among those detained is Bita Hemmati, reported to have received a death sentence alongside three others for allegations related to violence against security personnel during protests. Another detainee, Mahboubeh Shabani, aged 32, faces the capital charge of “waging war against God" for allegedly assisting injured protesters. She is currently imprisoned in Mashhad’s Vakilabad prison. Iranian dissident Masih Alinejad has shared the names of these eight women, urging international attention on their plight. Alinejad stated, "Say their names," highlighting the importance of raising awareness about human rights abuses. Rights activists have continuously raised alarms over Iran's use of capital punishment. Reports from the Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty indicate a concerning trend, noting that at least 1,639 executions occurred in 2025, including 48 women. These groups criticize the Iranian government for allegedly using executions as a tool to instil fear among the populace, particularly during ongoing geopolitical tensions with the United States and its ally Israel. The situation continues to evolve, drawing significant international scrutiny toward Iran’s treatment of dissenters and the implications for US-Iran relations.