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US President Donald Trump has condemned the growing number of executions in Iran involving people accused of taking part in mass protests earlier this year, before the conflict in the Middle East began.
In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump accused Iranian authorities of carrying out executions at an unprecedented rate while failing to pay large sections of the country’s military.
“The failing Islamic Republic of Iran is not paying large segments of their military, while at the same time killing protesters, even when they are not protesting, at levels not seen before,” Trump wrote.
He described the situation as “a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions” and called for the executions to be stopped immediately.
It was not immediately clear what prompted Trump’s latest comments. However, executions in Iran have continued to increase since the outbreak of the war on February 28.
The conflict began with joint US-Israeli strikes against Iran, weeks after Iranian authorities violently suppressed mass protests that began in late December.
The demonstrations began as public anger over the rising cost of living but quickly grew into broader anti-government protests. They peaked on January 8 and 9.
Iranian authorities have reported more than 3,000 deaths linked to the unrest, while blaming what they described as “terrorist acts” orchestrated by the United States and Israel.
Rights organisations based outside Iran have reported a significantly higher death toll. They have also accused Iranian security forces of opening fire on protesters during the demonstrations.
Earlier this month, more than 30 countries signed a joint statement condemning what they described as the continued execution of protesters and Iran’s use of the death penalty.
The United States did not sign the statement, despite Trump’s latest criticism of Iran’s executions. Capital punishment remains legal in several US states. Since the joint statement was issued, at least three more people have reportedly been executed in Iran on charges linked to the protests.
The continued executions have drawn renewed international scrutiny over Iran’s treatment of protesters and the use of the death penalty following the unrest.
