Bessent reiterated Trump’s support for protesters who are currently risking their lives on the streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities. The US president said earlier this week that “help is on its way”, which many interpreted as a promise to intervene militarily.
The president took particular objection to the brutality of the regime’s violence against protesters. Human Rights Activists in Iran, a US-based organisation, says the death toll now exceeds 2600.
Photos posted by Vahid Online on January 14, 2026, claim to show body bags at Kahrizak Forensic Medicine Centre in Tehran.
There was widespread expectation of US strikes when, in the early hours of Thursday, Iran closed its airspace to all but a few select international flights to Tehran, and the US withdrew some personnel from military bases in the region.
But Trump softened his position at the same time, saying the US had received information from trusted sources that the killing had stopped and that executions of political prisoners would not occur.
Iranian state media also cited officials saying 26-year-old protester Erfan Soltani, who was arrested last week, had not been sentenced to death and would not be executed.
Loading
Trump did not rule out military action, but said he would see whether the promises to stop killing protesters eventuated.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed that as many as 800 planned executions due to take place on Wednesday were halted.
She did not comment on whether Arab states convinced Trump not to strike Iran, nor a New York Times report that said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged him to postpone an attack. However, she confirmed Trump and Netanyahu spoke on Wednesday.
“There’s been a lot of speculation about what the president is going to do,” Leavitt said. “Only President Trump knows what he’s going to do – and a very, very small team of advisers are read into his thinking.
“The president continues to closely monitor but also keep all of his options on the table.”
Trump and Iran’s National Security Council chief Ali Larijani traded threats in December.Credit: AP
The Associated Press reported witnesses in Tehran said recent mornings showed no new signs of bonfires lit the night before or debris in the streets. The sound of gunfire had also faded after several nights of intense shooting.
The Wall Street Journal quoted two protesters in Tehran who said the streets were calmer, with fewer protesters and police roadblocks.
Those encouraging Trump to strike Iran remained confident he would eventually do so. Lindsey Graham, an interventionist Republican senator, said Trump’s resolve was not in doubt.
Loading
“The question is, when we do an operation like this, should it be bigger or smaller?” he said. “I’m in the camp of bigger. Time will tell. I’m hopeful and optimistic that the regime days are numbered.”
Bessent appeared to offer an olive branch to Iranian leaders in his video message, telling them there was “still time” if they chose to “join us”.
“US Treasury knows that like rats on a sinking ship, you are frantically wiring funds stolen from Iranian families to banks and financial institutions around the world. Rest assured, we will track them and you,” he said.
“But there’s still time if you choose to join us. Stop the violence and stand with the people of Iran.”
With AP, Reuters
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
