Iranian authorities are reportedly preparing to execute a young man detained during nationwide anti-government protests, prompting a stark warning from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old merchant, faces execution on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, according to human rights groups monitoring the situation.
Rapid Arrest and Death Sentence
Soltani was arrested at his home in Fardis, a city about 40 kilometres west of Tehran, on January 8. Sources close to his family told the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights that they were informed of the death sentence and the imminent execution date. The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights reported that Soltani's family was granted only a short, final visit.
The judicial process has been shrouded in secrecy. Hengaw stated that Soltani has been denied access to a lawyer and his family has been deliberately kept uninformed. His sister, who is a lawyer, has been blocked from viewing the case file. A representative for Hengaw noted it is unclear if Soltani even participated in a demonstration, stating the government provided no evidence.
Mounting Death Toll and Widespread Unrest
Soltani's case emerges amid a severe crackdown on protests that began in late December 2025. Civilians have taken to the streets across Iran to rally against the government, driven by soaring inflation, a severe affordability crisis, and crippling trade sanctions.
According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, the state response has been lethal. As of Wednesday, at least 2,400 people have been killed by Iranian authorities since the protests started. The victims include 12 children under the age of 18. The group has recorded 614 protest gatherings in 187 cities across all 31 provinces.
The scale of detentions is massive, with at least 18,434 individuals confirmed to be in custody. The agency also reports 1,134 people with severe injuries and 97 cases of forced confessions being broadcast.
International Reaction and Trump's Ultimatum
The looming execution has drawn international condemnation and a specific threat from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking to CBS Evening News on Tuesday, Trump issued a direct warning to the Iranian regime.
"We will take very strong action," Trump stated. "If they do such a thing, we will take very strong action." He emphasized this warning applied if Soltani or any other Iranians are executed.
Earlier, on his Truth Social platform, Trump urged Iranians to continue protesting and to "take over the country’s institutions." He told them to "save the names of the killers and abusers" and promised they would "pay a big price." Trump announced he had cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials "until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS."
In a significant economic threat, the former president also declared that any country conducting business with Iran would face a 25% tariff on all trade with the United States. This move could impact over 100 nations, including major powers like China and Russia, which trade with the oil-rich nation.
Human rights organizations continue to voice deep concern over the risk of mass executions. Iran Human Rights has called on the international community to issue an immediate and decisive response to prevent further loss of life.
