President Donald Trump has asserted that he personally thwarted a mass execution in Iran by delivering a stern threat to the Iranian authorities.
In an interview with CNBC’s Joe Kernen aired today, Trump recounted a dramatic confrontation that he believes saved nearly 1,000 lives.
When questioned about whether his actions had indeed spared lives, Trump confidently replied, suggesting the number was “thousands, more than that.”
“There was one particular thing that really got my attention,” Trump shared with Kernen. “They were planning to carry out an old-fashioned hanging. They were going to execute 837 people on Thursday.”
Trump described how the Iranian government was on the brink of moving forward with these executions, which he emphasized involved “mostly young people,” until he stepped in with a direct warning to the regime.
“I told them they couldn’t do that. I warned them that if they did, there would be consequences,” Trump stated. Although he didn’t disclose the exact wording of his message, he described it as “nasty.”
‘I don’t want to say exactly what I said, but nasty. And they canceled it, hopefully permanently,’ he added.
The claim comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, where the US has continued to move military assets, including carrier strike groups and jet fighters.
Recent military movements have seen U.S. F-15 Strike Eagles arrive in Jordan as part of a broader strategic buildup that includes the westward transit of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.
The claim comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, where the US has continued to move military assets, including carrier strike groups and jet fighters
According to Trump, the Iranian government was prepared to move forward with the executions, which he noted involved ‘mostly young people,’ until he intervened with a direct message to the regime
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran on Saturday
Currently moving from the South China Sea toward the Persian Gulf, this naval force is equipped with destroyers, F-35 stealth fighters and electronic-jamming aircraft.
When the reporter pressed him on whether the movement of these assets was a ‘prelude to further action,’ Trump remained coy.
‘Well, we hope there’s not going to be further action, but, you know, they’re shooting people indiscriminately in the streets,’ the president said, referencing the civil unrest and protests.
Trump also used the interview to boast about the U.S. military’s capabilities. He pointed out the strike on the Fordow nuclear facility, which he claimed utilized B–2 bombers to devastating effect.
‘We hit them hard, the B–2 bombers,’ Trump said, noting that the U.S. has recently ordered 25 additional aircraft of that model.
‘They were unbelievable, those things, that they were totally undetectable… with no moon, in the dark of night, late in the evening, every single one of those bombs, and they’re giants, every single one of those bombs hit its targets and just obliterated the place.’
According to initial available intelligence assessments, the US severely damaged the Iranian program, setting it back by months rather than fully destroying it.
Kernen noted that Democrats had given the president ‘grief’ for his actions in Iran, suggesting that even if he ‘walked on water,’ critics would say he ‘can’t swim.’
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Is this strong leadership or irresponsible talk?
Following Trump’s calls for the Iranian Supreme Leader to step down, Iranian General Abolfazl Shekarchi warned that any hostile actions toward Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would face severe consequences
‘It’s, look, they’re sick people. They really are,’ Trump responded. ‘They are, we call it Trump derangement syndrome.’
Trump ended the discussion by suggesting that the world should ‘stay tuned’ regarding further developments in Iran.
He made clear his red line would be nuclear activity in Iran, saying if the regime continues to experiment with the technology, ‘it’s going to happen again.’
Following Trump’s calls for the Iranian Supreme Leader to step down, Iranian General Abolfazl Shekarchi warned that any hostile actions toward Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would face severe consequences.
‘Trump knows that if any hand of aggression is extended toward our leader, we not only cut that hand but also we will set fire to their world,’ Shekarchi said.
