Trump urges Iran nuclear deal, claims his threat halted mass hangings

2026-02-20 - 21:22

President Donald Trump urged Iranian leaders Friday to negotiate a "fair deal" on the nuclear program, while sharply criticizing Tehran's human rights record and expressing sympathy for the Iranian people. Speaking at the White House, Trump said: "They better negotiate a fair deal. You know, the people of Iran are a lot different than the leaders of Iran, and it's very, very, very sad situation." Hanging Claim Trump claimed that during last month's widespread protests, "They were going to hang 837 people and I gave them the word: 'If you hang one person, even one person, that you're going to be hit right then and there.' I wasn't waiting two weeks and negotiating, and they gave up the hanging. They didn't hang 837. Supposedly they didn't hang anybody." He added that 32,000 people were killed over a "relatively short period of time" in Iran. "They've lived in hell," Trump said of the Iranian people. Strike Consideration Earlier Friday, Trump confirmed he is "considering" a limited military strike to pressure Iran into a nuclear deal, though he provided no details. The remarks follow his Thursday warning that the US would opt for military action "within 10 to 15 days" if negotiations fail. Iran and the US resumed nuclear talks this month in Muscat and Geneva under Omani mediation, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stating Friday the sides are discussing peaceful enrichment guarantees—not program suspension.