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President Donald Trump on Thursday addressed the Iranian regime’s execution of 19-year-old wrestler Saleh Mohammadi.
“About two weeks ago they put out a notice that if you protest, we’re going to shoot you. They’re killing them. Look what they did to the wrestler. They killed him for, for speaking up. They killed him. He was a star wrestler, a great wrestler, actually,” Trump said during an interview on Pakinomist’ “The Five.”
“Iran has great wrestlers and he was a star, one of the best. And they killed him because he spoke up. He spoke out against the regime, which is basically decimated.”
Mohammadi was reportedly killed in a public hanging earlier this month, according to Iranian American human rights activists and dissidents.
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Iran International reported that Iran’s regime hanged Mohammadi and two other Iranian men, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi “after being accused of killing two police officers during nationwide protests earlier this year,” the judiciary-affiliated Mizan news agency reported.
Mohammadi previously told the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting that his dream was to become an Olympic champion.
Mohammadi won a bronze medal in September 2024 for Iran’s national freestyle wrestling at the Saytiyev International Cup in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
The execution prompted comments of grief and outrage from several Olympians, including U.S. gold medalists Brandon Slay, a wrestler; Tyler Clary, a swimmer; and Kaillie Humphries, a women’s bobsledder.
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The International Olympic Committee drew criticism for its statement on the execution because it did not condemn Iran.
“Unfortunately, today’s world is divided and full of conflict and tragedy. The IOC is deeply concerned about the plight of athletes around the globe and is concerned whenever it learns of individual cases of abuse,” the IOC said in a statement to Pakinomist Digital.
“However, it is very difficult to comment on the situations of individuals during a conflict or unrest in a country, without the IOC being able to verify the often contradictory information.
“At this point, we are particularly concerned about the situation Iranian athletes affected by the events unfolding in their country, as we are with all athletes facing conflict and tragedy elsewhere in the world. Unfortunately, these situations are being brought to our attention more regularly because of the increasingly divided world we live in.”
The IOC noted that it does not have the power to dictate the decisions of a sovereign nation.
“As a civilian, non-governmental organization, the IOC has neither the mandate nor the ability to change the laws or political system of a sovereign country. This is the legitimate role of governments and the respective intergovernmental organizations.
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“The IOC is a sports organization whose mandate and success is based on bringing the world together in peaceful competition. We need to be realistic about the IOC’s ability to directly influence global and national affairs,” the statement continued.
“At the same time, we will continue to work with our Olympic stakeholders to help where we can, often through quiet sports diplomacy. The IOC remains in contact with the Olympic community from Iran.”
