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White House Says Iran Halted 800 Executions Under Trump Pressure as U.S. Imposes New Sanctions

After Gulf mediation, the White House tempered strike threats, with sanctions imposed under an internet blackout.

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U.S. President Donald Trump is interviewed by Reuters White House correspondent Steve Holland (not pictured) during an exclusive interview in the Oval Office in the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 14, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
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United States Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz speaks during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Iran at the request of the United States at U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., January 15, 2026. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

Overview

  • Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran stopped 800 scheduled executions and noted that President Trump is monitoring the situation with all options still on the table.
  • Iran’s judiciary stated that Erfan Soltani has not been sentenced to death, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Fox News there was no plan for hangings.
  • The U.S. Treasury announced sanctions on Iranian officials and a shadow banking network tied to laundering oil revenues, expanding pressure on Tehran’s security apparatus and finances.
  • Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman urged Trump to hold off on strikes, while the U.S. and allies adjusted personnel at regional sites including al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
  • A senior UN official warned that public talk of strikes increases volatility as a week-long internet blackout hampers verification, with rights groups reporting thousands killed in the crackdown.