Iran is once again under intense international scrutiny as the authorities prepare to execute 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, a young man detained amid ongoing nationwide protests. The development has prompted a sharp warning from US President Donald Trump, who said Washington would respond with “very strong actions” if Tehran goes ahead with the execution.
Soltani was detained last week during a sweeping crackdown by Iran’s leadership, led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as protests spread across the country over political repression and economic distress. Demonstrations have been met with mass arrests, internet shutdowns and heavy security deployment in multiple cities.
According to information shared by his family, Soltani was arrested in Karaj, near Tehran, at the height of the protests. His detention reportedly took place shortly before authorities imposed a nationwide internet blackout, cutting off communication for millions and making it difficult to independently verify arrests and court proceedings.
The family said Soltani was taken into custody on January 8. Just three days later, on 11 January, they were informed that his execution had been scheduled for January 14. They allege that he was sentenced to death without a proper trial.
“In an extremely rapid process, the court issued a death sentence within just two days,” the family said, raising serious concerns over due process and the use of capital punishment to suppress dissent.
Human rights organisations have reacted with alarm. Groups such as Amnesty International and the National Union for Democracy in Iran have taken to social media to urge the international community to intervene immediately and pressure Iranian authorities to halt Soltani’s execution, along with others reportedly facing similar sentences.
The issue has now escalated diplomatically. US President Donald Trump warned Tehran of consequences if executions linked to the protests continue. “We will take very strong actions if they do such a thing,” he said, signalling the possibility of renewed political or economic pressure.
Meanwhile, the human cost of the crackdown continues to rise. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has reported that at least 2,571 people have been killed since protests began. Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR) has independently confirmed 734 deaths, including nine minors, while cautioning that the actual toll is likely far higher due to restricted access to information and ongoing internet blackouts.
Iran is facing one of its most serious waves of unrest in decades. As protests spread nationwide, authorities have tightened controls, limited digital access and intensified security operations, drawing growing condemnation from rights groups and foreign governments alike.
