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U.S. Pauses Strike Plans as White House Says Iran Halted Planned Executions and U.S. Imposes New Sanctions

Regional mediation during an information blackout has produced a tentative pause that Iran portrays as restored order.

Overview

  • White House officials said Iran halted 800 scheduled executions after President Trump’s warnings, while stressing that all options remain on the table and the situation is being closely monitored.
  • Treasury announced new sanctions on Iranian officials and a shadow banking network, including the secretary of the Supreme Council for National Security and 18 individuals and entities tied to oil-revenue laundering through Bank Melli and Shahr Bank.
  • Iran’s judiciary said detainee Erfan Soltani is not facing a death sentence and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there is no plan for hangings, as authorities claim control and protests subside after a crackdown that rights groups say killed 2,615 to at least 3,428 people.
  • Gulf partners including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman urged Washington to hold off on strikes, and reporting indicates Israel’s Binyamin Netanyahu also pressed for a delay, while a senior UN official warned that public threats of force heighten volatility.
  • Precautionary steps included a brief closure of Iranian airspace, adjustments to U.S. personnel at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and an emergency UN Security Council session focused on the crackdown and regional risks.