US President Donald Trump has insisted that the decision to refrain from bombing Iran was his own and not influenced by any third countries.
Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against the Islamic Republic amid ongoing violent protests in Iran. Unrest erupted throughout the country in late December over economic hardship and inflation but evolved into broader anti-government demonstrations, leaving hundreds dead. Addressing the protestors earlier this week, he said: “Help is on its way.”
Reuters reported on Wednesday that a US strike on Iran was “imminent.” The attack ultimately did not take place, however, with US media later claiming that senior officials from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt and Israel had urged Trump to call it off.
When asked about those reports by journalists on Friday, Trump replied by saying, “Nobody convinced me. I convinced myself.”
The reversal of Iran’s alleged plans to hold swift trials and execute some of the more violent demonstrators detained during the unrest had a “big impact” on his decision, he said.
“You had, yesterday, scheduled over 800 hangings. They didn’t hang anyone. They canceled the hangings,” Trump explained. “I greatly respect the fact that they canceled that,” he added.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Fox News on Wednesday that there would be “no hanging today or tomorrow.” Araghchi also said that calm has returned to the cities of Iran, with the government being in full control, and blaming Israel and outside interference for fueling the unrest.
Trump was also asked if his promise to help the Iranian demonstrators was still on the cards. “We're gonna see,” he responded.
Despite calling off the airstrikes, the US has sent at least one aircraft carrier to the Middle East, Fox News reported on Friday, citing military sources. Washington already has three destroyers and three Littoral Combat Ships in the region, according to the broadcaster.
Earlier this week, the US imposed additional sanctions on Iran, targeting five security officials it accused of being involved in “violence and cruel repression” against the demonstrators, one of the country’s prisons and 18 other individuals and entities suspected of helping Tehran evade oil restrictions.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Moscow is actively working to promote the “de-escalation of tensions” in the Middle East, including though efforts by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has held phone conversations with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.