A 26-year-old Iranian protester, Erfan Soltani, is expected to be executed over his alleged involvement in anti-government demonstrations in Tehran, according to human rights organisations. Asked about the case in an interview with CBS News, US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would respond with “very tough action” if the execution goes ahead.
“We will take very tough action. If they do something like that, we will take very tough action,” Trump said. Pressed to clarify what he meant, the US president referred to past US operations abroad, including actions taken in Venezuela and the killing of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2019. “We don’t want to see what’s happening in Iran happening,” Trump added. “If they want to protest, that’s one thing. When they start killing thousands of people. And now you’re telling me about hangings. We’ll see how that works out for them. It won’t work out well.”
Allegations of a rushed trial and intimidation
The Norway-based rights group Hengaw said Soltani, who comes from the city of Fardis west of Tehran, was arrested in connection with protests in Karaj. According to the organisation, his family was informed of the impending execution without transparency or due process, raising serious concerns about the judicial proceedings.
Hengaw said relatives were deliberately kept in the dark and warned that the speed with which the case has progressed suggests the death penalty is being used as a tool of intimidation against protesters.
Similar concerns have been raised by Iran Human Rights, which said Soltani was denied meaningful access to legal defence. The organisation reported that even a relative who is a lawyer attempted to take on the case but was blocked by the authorities. There are also reports that Soltani was given only a few minutes to say goodbye to his family, who were told by security officials that it would be their final meeting.
“Keep protesting, help is on the way”
In a separate post on his Truth Social platform, Trump urged Iranian protesters to “keep protesting”, warning that “killers and abusers will pay a heavy price”, without specifying what form US assistance might take.
Speaking again to CBS News, Trump said the United States would take “very strong action” if the Iranian authorities proceed with executions of demonstrators. At the same time, the US government advised its own citizens to leave Iran immediately, preferably via Turkey or Armenia.
US Vice President JD Vance convened a meeting of the US National Security Council, which was also attended by Trump, according to US officials.
More than 2,000 deaths reported
The human cost of the crackdown continues to rise. The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it has documented at least 2,403 deaths over a 17-day period, including 1,850 protesters, 135 individuals linked to the government, nine bystanders and nine children, despite an almost complete internet blackout.
An Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that the death toll had reached around 2,000, but blamed the casualties on what he described as “terrorists”. Separately, Iran Human Rights has reported at least 734 protesters killed.
Protests have spread to roughly 180 cities and towns across all 31 provinces of Iran, representing, according to analysts, the most serious challenge to the country’s theocratic leadership since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.