The appeal came in the form of a direct and public message, with President Donald Trump urging Iran’s leadership to halt what activists claim are impending executions of eight women detained during recent protests.
The request, posted to Truth Social, framed the move as an opportunity to establish goodwill ahead of potential negotiations between the two sides.
Trump’s message was brief but pointed. Addressing Iranian officials, he asked for the release of the women and emphasized that such a decision would be viewed positively. He also called for the detainees to be spared from harm, describing the move as a constructive opening to future talks.
The post followed claims circulated online by pro Israel activist Eyal Yakoby, who alleged that Iran is preparing to execute eight female detainees connected to nationwide protests earlier this year. While the identities of all eight individuals have not been independently confirmed, several names have been widely shared alongside photos.
Among them is Bita Hemmati, who was reportedly arrested during demonstrations in January. According to opposition sources, she faced multiple charges, including involvement in violent acts and actions deemed threatening to national security.
Hemmati was detained along with her husband and two other men from their apartment building, with reports indicating all four received death sentences.
Also named were Diana Taherabadi, a 16 year old, and Mahboubeh Shabani, both accused of participating in anti government protests. Taherabadi was reportedly charged with a capital offense tied to protest activity, while Shabani was accused of assisting injured demonstrators before her arrest in February.
Other individuals identified in the reports include Venus Hosseininejad, who was allegedly detained in mid January and later appeared in a televised confession, and Golnaz Naraghi, a medical specialist said to have been arrested and pressured into signing a confession while in custody. Details surrounding three additional women remain unclear, with limited independent verification available.
Human rights organizations have long criticized Iran’s handling of protest related cases, frequently raising concerns about due process and the use of forced confessions. The recent wave of arrests followed widespread demonstrations earlier in the year, during which tens of thousands of people were reportedly taken into custody.
