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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 saying if you protest, we will shoot you. They killed them. Look what they did to the wrestler. They killed him for speaking out. They killed him. He was a star wrestler, a great wrestler, in fact,” Trump said during an interview on PK Press Club’ “The Five.”
“Iran has great fighters, and he was a star, one of the best. And they killed him because he was speaking out. He was speaking out against the regime, which is largely decimated.”
Mohammadi was allegedly 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 the Iranian regime hanged Mohammadi and two other Iranians, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi “after they were accused of killing two police officers during nationwide protests earlier this year,” the judiciary-linked Mizan news agency reported.
Mohammadi previously told the Islamic Republic of Iran TV channel that his dream was to become an Olympic champion.
Mohammadi won a bronze medal in September 2024 for Iranian national freestyle wrestling at the Saytiyev International Cup in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
The execution prompted comments of mourning and outrage from several Olympians, including American gold medalist 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 cares deeply about the situation of athletes around the world and is concerned whenever it learns of individual cases of mistreatment,” the IOC said in a statement to PK Press Club Digital.
“However, it is very difficult to comment on the situation of individuals during a conflict or unrest in a country without the IOC being able to verify often contradictory information.
“At this time, we are particularly concerned about the situation of Iranian athletes affected by events unfolding in their countries, as we are with all athletes facing conflicts and tragedies elsewhere in the world. Unfortunately, these situations are being brought to our attention more and more regularly due to the increasingly divided world in which we live. »
The IOC stressed that it did not have the power to dictate the decisions of a sovereign nation.
“The IOC, as a civil non-governmental organization, has neither the mandate nor the capacity to change the laws or political system of any sovereign country. This is the legitimate role of governments and respective intergovernmental organizations.
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“The IOC is a sports organization whose mission and success is based on bringing the world together in peaceful competition. We must 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 partners to help where we can, often through discreet sports diplomacy. The IOC remains in contact with the Iranian Olympic community.”
