US President Donald Trump on Friday publicly thanked Iranian authorities for stopping what he said were planned executions of hundreds of political detainees, a rare gesture that appeared to signal a softening of his earlier warnings toward Tehran.

Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House for his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump said Iran had called off the execution of more than 800 people. “They canceled the hangings, and I have great respect for that,” he said.

Trump echoed the message on social media, claiming that over 800 executions had been scheduled but were no longer going ahead. “Thank you!” he wrote.

The remarks followed days of heightened rhetoric in which Trump suggested the United States could take military action if Iran carried out mass executions during widespread protests that have since subsided. His comments on Friday hinted that the likelihood of U.S. military intervention may now be diminishing.

While activist groups say the death toll from the protests continues to climb, Trump’s optimistic assessment appeared to contrast with reports of severe repression inside Iran. Still, his statements suggested he was stepping back from earlier suggestions that a U.S. strike was imminent.

Trump had earlier promised protesters that “help is on the way,” but when asked Friday whether that remained true, he replied, “We’re going to see.” He also denied that pressure from Arab or Israeli leaders influenced his shift in tone, saying the decision was his own.

Trump did not specify who in Iran confirmed that the executions were halted. Meanwhile, demonstrations that began on Dec. 28 over economic hardship and evolved into direct challenges to Iran’s ruling system appear to have ended. Tehran has seen no protests for days, daily life has largely resumed, and authorities have reported no unrest elsewhere, though an internet blackout has continued.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said on Friday that at least 2,797 people have been killed during the unrest, with the figure still rising.

In contrast, Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi urged the United States to follow through on its pledge to support protesters, saying he still believed Trump would keep his word.