Tehran’s judiciary disputes U.S. claims of spared prisoners amid ongoing unrest, rising fatalities, and increased American military presence near the region.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Iran’s top prosecutor on Friday dismissed as “completely false” President Donald Trump’s repeated assertions that Tehran halted the execution of 800 detained protesters, as the reported death toll from a nationwide crackdown on demonstrations climbed past 5,000, according to figures cited by activists.
Iranian judiciary chief prosecutor Mohammad Movahedi rejected the claim in remarks carried by the judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency, saying there was no such decision or figure. His comments followed reporting by the Associated Press detailing Trump’s statements and the escalating confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
“This claim is completely false; no such number exists, nor has the judiciary made any such decision,” Movahedi said.
President Trump has repeatedly stated that Iran halted the executions of hundreds of detainees arrested during months of protests, though he has not publicly identified the source of that information. Movahedi suggested the claim may have originated outside the judiciary, possibly from Iran’s Foreign Ministry, which is led by Abbas Araghchi. Araghchi has maintained direct contact with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and participated in multiple rounds of nuclear negotiations with him.
“We have a separation of powers, the responsibilities of each institution are clearly defined, and we do not, under any circumstances, take instructions from foreign powers,” Movahedi said.
Activist groups say the overall death toll from the unrest has reached at least 5,002, with fears that the true number may be significantly higher. Verification has become increasingly difficult due to what activists describe as the most extensive internet blackout in Iran’s history, now exceeding two weeks.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that 4,716 of those killed were demonstrators, 203 were government-affiliated individuals, 43 were children and 40 were civilians not directly participating in protests. The group also said more than 26,800 people have been detained as authorities expand arrest campaigns nationwide. HRANA said it has an additional 9,000-plus deaths under review.
Iran’s government released its first official casualty figures earlier this week, claiming 3,117 people were killed. Officials said 2,427 of those were civilians and security forces, while labeling the remainder as “terrorists.” Iranian authorities have previously been accused of underreporting fatalities during periods of unrest.
Judiciary officials have referred to some detainees as “mohareb,” or “enemies of God,” a charge that carries the death penalty. The designation was used during mass executions in 1988 that reportedly killed at least 5,000 people.
Tensions between Iran and the United States remain elevated as American military assets continue moving closer to the Middle East. Trump late Thursday described the deployment as an “armada,” referring to the movement of an aircraft carrier strike group toward the region.
A U.S. Navy official said the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group is currently operating in the Indian Ocean. Trump said aboard Air Force One that the deployment was precautionary.
“We have a massive fleet heading in that direction and maybe we won’t have to use it,” Trump said.
Analysts say the military buildup could provide Trump with the option to carry out strikes, though he has so far refrained despite repeated warnings to Tehran. Mass executions of protesters and the killing of peaceful demonstrators have previously been cited by Trump as potential triggers for military action.
“While President Trump now appears to have backtracked, likely under pressure from regional leaders and cognizant that airstrikes alone would be insufficient to implode the regime, military assets continue to be moved into the region, indicating kinetic action may still happen,” the New York-based Soufan Center said in an analysis released Friday.
Iranian officials responded sharply to Trump’s remarks. Mohammad Javad Haji Ali Akbari, Tehran’s Friday prayer leader, derided the U.S. president during a sermon aired on state radio.
“That foolish man has resorted to threatening the nation, especially over what he said about Iran’s leader,” Akbari said. “If any harm were to occur, all your interests and bases in the region would become clear and precise targets of Iranian forces.”
Trump also referenced prior negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, which took place before Israel launched a 12-day conflict with Iran in June, followed by U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. He warned that any renewed nuclear activity by Tehran would prompt an even stronger response.
“They should have made a deal before we hit them,” Trump said, adding that future action would make previous strikes “look like peanuts.”
The U.K. Defense Ministry separately announced that its joint Eurofighter Typhoon squadron with Qatar, known as 12 Squadron, had deployed to the Persian Gulf for defensive purposes amid regional tensions.
Iran on Friday also marked “the Day of the Guardian,” an annual commemoration of its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. State television programming for the event included displays of Iranian military drones, including Shahed models used by Russia in the war in Ukraine. During one broadcast, a masked individual identified as a member of Iran’s security forces issued a threat toward Israel, stating in broken Hebrew, “We are closer to you than you think.”
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