U.S. President Donald Trump expressed outrage on Tuesday (August 25, 2026) at the mounting number of executions in Iran of people allegedly involved in mass protests earlier this year before the West Asia war began.
"The failing Islamic Republic of Iran is not paying large segments of their military, while at the same time killing protesters, even when they are not protesting, at levels not seen before," he wrote on Truth Social.
"It is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions and must be stopped NOW," he added.
It was not immediately clear what new information had spurred the early morning post, but there has been a steady increase in executions since the outbreak of the war on February 28.
The joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, which kicked off the war, came weeks after the violent quelling of mass protests in Iran. Rallies initially began in late December over outrage at the high cost of living but rapidly evolved into widespread anti-government demonstrations that peaked on January 8 and 9.
Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths but attributed the violence to "terrorist acts" orchestrated by the United States and Israel. Rights groups based abroad recorded a far higher toll and said the security forces had fired on demonstrators.
Earlier this month, more than 30 countries signed a joint letter condemning "in the strongest terms the ongoing executions of protesters and use of the death penalty" by Iran. The United States, where capital punishment is still legal, did not sign the letter. Since then, at least three more people have been executed in Iran on charges related to the protests.
Bounties targeting Donald Trump and his son Barron
Iranian state media and affiliated groups have repeatedly issued threats and claimed bounties targeting Donald Trump, with a recent escalation involving his son Barron.
Examples include a parliamentary proposal discussed in May 2026 for a $55 million government reward for anyone who kills him, crowdfunding campaigns claiming tens of millions raised, and a July 2026 announcement by the Iran-aligned Islamic Resistance in Iraq of a $10 million bounty for his assassination.
In late August 2026, Iranian state television—Channel 3, linked to the IRGC—broadcast a stylized video titled something like “Where to kill Barron Trump?” that purported to show surveillance of the 20-year-old’s university, movements, security details, and habits, while referencing a $10 million bounty and suggesting many would be willing to act on it. Similar prior videos targeted Trump himself and Melania Trump.
The U.S. Secret Service has stated it is aware of the Barron video and investigates threats to protectees, though such Iranian media claims are often heavily propagandistic and not independently verified as formal, funded bounties with clear payment mechanisms.
Source: thehindu.com, Staff; DPN, Ai, News outlets, August 25, 2026
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