US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) asked Iranian leaders to release eight women the Islamic Republic is allegedly planning to hang.
In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: “To the leaders of Iran who will soon be negotiating with my representatives: I would greatly appreciate the release of these women. I am sure they will respect the fact that you have done so. Please do not harm them! This would be a great start to our negotiations!!!”
His remarks followed a message from US pro-Israel activist Eyal Yakoby, who claimed Tehran was preparing to hang the octet.
Who are the women facing the death penalty in Iran?
According to the New York Post, while the post did not identify the women, it included a photo of Bita Hemmati, a protester arrested during anti-regime demonstrations in January. The Islamic Republic accused Hemmati of numerous crimes, including using weapons and explosives, throwing objects such as concrete blocks, participating in protest rallies and undermining national security, according to the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).
She was arrested along with her husband and two other men who lived in the same apartment building, and all four were sentenced to death for alleged crimes against the regime.
The post also included a picture of Diana Taherabadi, 16, and Mahboubeh Shabani, 33, who were arrested in February for allegedly participating in anti-regime protests. Among other things, there was also a picture of Ensieh Nejati, a Kurdish women’s rights activist who was sentenced to death in early 2025.
Tehran accused of holding mock trials
According to the report, human rights groups have consistently accused Tehran of holding sham trials of those accused of defying the regime there, with the Islamic Republic handing out brutal punishments for the January protests.
A joint report issued by Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty estimated that in 2025, the Islamic Republic executed four people every day. More than 1,600 people were reportedly executed last year, an estimate that represents the highest in roughly three decades since the end of Iran’s war against Iraq in 1989.
Additionally, over 50,000 people were arrested during the January demonstrations, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a US-based group that relies on a network of sources in Iran for its reporting.
The deadline for a cease-fire between the US and Iran is approaching
Trump’s remarks come at a volatile time in relations between the two countries. With a fragile two-week ceasefire set to expire on Wednesday, the two sides have been unable to agree on a peace deal despite more than 21 hours of talks in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. While both sides blamed each other for the failure to reach an agreement, they were still open to a second round of talks. However, Iran’s state radio recently reported that the country does not plan to send any delegation to the talks until the US military lifts the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz imposed by the US president a day after the talks failed.
