The Iranian judiciary has rejected statements by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that Tehran halted the execution of 800 protesters under the threat of military force.

The claim was “completely false”, said attorney general Mohammad Movahedi-Azad on Friday.

A week ago, Mr Trump said that a military attack on the Iranian leadership had been called off because authorities cancelled the execution of 800 people.

During the wave of protests, he repeatedly assured the demonstrators of his support and drew red lines for the leadership in Tehran, so far without consequences.

The protests were initially triggered by an economic crisis at the end of December.

However, the demonstrations quickly escalated into political uprisings against the authoritarian rule of Iran.

The security apparatus cracked down brutally on the protests, and thousands of demonstrators were killed.

The Iranian judiciary had said that particularly serious cases of rioters would be given priority.

In some cases, the charges against them include the charge of “waging war against God”, an offence that can be punished by death under Islamic law in Iran.

(dpa/NAN)