Trump warns Iran against executing protesters

President Trump on Wednesday warned Iran against executing three individuals sentenced to death for participating in protests against the government in Tehran last year.

“Three individuals were sentenced to death in Iran for participating in protests. The execution is expected momentarily. Executing these three people sends a terrible signal to the world and should not be done!” the president tweeted.

He also shared the message in Farsi.

Three individuals were sentenced to death in Iran for participating in protests. The execution is expected momentarily. Executing these three people sends a terrible signal to the world and should not be done! #StopExecutionsInIran

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2020

سه نفر در ایران برای شرکت کردن در تظاهرات محکوم به مرگ شده اند. اعدام آنها در هر لحظه قابل انتظار است. اعدام این سه نفر پیامی اسفناک به دنیا می فرستد و نباید انجام شود. #اعدام_نکنید

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2020

The three men, Saeed Tamjidi, Mohammad Rajabi and Amirhossein Moradi, were among thousands believed to have been arrested for participating in massive anti-government protests in November.

The men were charged with “participation in vandalism and arson with the intent to confront and engage in war with the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

The men’s lawyers said that they were forced to confess to the alleged crimes “under aberrant conditions,” however Iran’s judiciary upheld the death sentence earlier this week. The developments have prompted outcry among human rights groups and sparked an online social media campaign calling on Iran to stop the executions.

Trump’s administration has taken a hard-line approach with respect to policy on Iran. In January, the president expressed support for anti-government protesters in Iran after Tehran admitted to accidentally shooting down a Ukraine-bound airplane.

Trump’s warning message to Iran came the same week that his administration carried out the first federal execution in 17 years, executing by lethal injection a one-time white supremacist convicted of killing an Arkansas family in the 1990s. The decision to resume federal executions drew scrutiny from civil rights organizations.