US President Donald Trump on Tuesday commented on the economic and human rights situation in Iran, accusing the Islamic Republic of failing to pay members of its military while continuing to kill protesters.
“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," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“It is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, and must be stopped, NOW," he added.
Trump’s comments come amid a new US campaign aimed at economically isolating Iran, as Iranian authorities continue to carry out executions of people detained in connection with anti-regime protests.
On Monday, US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent announced the launch of “Operation Economic Outcast," which he described as an unprecedented campaign intended to cut off the sources of revenue available to the Iranian regime.
“Our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone," he stated.
The campaign includes new sectoral sanctions targeting digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping. Bessent also announced sanctions against more than 60 entities, individuals, and vessels accused of helping Iran procure nuclear and missile technology, conduct cyber operations, and generate oil revenue.
Bessent warned countries, financial institutions, and other entities that continue facilitating Iranian economic activity that they could face US sanctions and lose access to the US dollar system.
“This is economic asphyxiation of this regime," he stated.
The Trump administration's increased economic pressure comes as Iranian authorities have accelerated executions of political prisoners.
Early Sunday morning, Iranian authorities executed Majid Adineh, who was arrested during the January 2026 protests, according to the regime judiciary-affiliated Mizan News Agency.
Mizan reported that the Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced Adineh to death and ordered the confiscation of his property after convicting him of carrying out “operational actions in favor of Israel, the US, and hostile groups." Iran’s Supreme Court subsequently upheld the sentence.
Adineh’s execution came one week after Shahram Sadeghi, another detainee from the January protests, was executed. Sadeghi had also been sentenced to death by the Karaj Revolutionary Court on charges of carrying out “operational actions in favor of Israel, the US, and hostile groups."
On August 20, Iranian authorities executed Qaem Hosseini, an Afghan citizen detained in connection with the “Alikhani Square" case in Isfahan. Four other defendants in the same case had previously been executed.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on August 5 that at least 56 political prisoners had been executed in Iran since March 18, including 27 whose cases were connected to the January protests. According to Türk, more than 100 additional people were at risk of execution.
Trump has previously condemned Iran over its executions. On July 21, following the execution of Gol Mohammad Mohammadi, a 23-year-old Afghan national, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “The latest one of 52,000 plus innocent protesters. Savages!!!"
Mohammadi was executed at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan together with 19-year-old protester Erfan Esfandiari.