World News
Iran to hang anti-regime protester today; Trump warns of ‘consequences’ over violence
Iran is set to execute its first anti-regime protester amid a sweeping crackdown on demonstrations, human rights groups have said, triggering sharp warnings from US President Donald Trump over continued violence against civilians.
Iran is set to execute its first anti-regime protester amid a sweeping crackdown on demonstrations, human rights groups have said, triggering sharp warnings from US President Donald Trump over continued violence against civilians.
According to the New York Post, citing Iran Human Rights (IHR) and the National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFD), 26-year-old Erfan Soltani is scheduled to be hanged on Wednesday. Soltani was arrested during protests in Karaj last Thursday and has been charged with “waging war against God,” an offence punishable by death under Iranian law.
NUFD said Soltani’s “only crime is calling for freedom for Iran” and claimed he has been denied access to legal counsel. The group has appealed for urgent international intervention to halt the execution.
The development comes amid widespread unrest across Iran. The Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that by the seventeenth day of protests, at least 614 protest gatherings had taken place across 187 cities in all 31 provinces. The agency confirmed the arrest of 18,434 individuals and the deaths of 2,403 protesters, including 12 children. It also reported the deaths of 147 members of security forces and government supporters.
Amid the unrest, exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi on Tuesday appealed to protesters and the armed forces to sustain the movement against the Khamenei regime. In a video message shared on X, he said the world was not only witnessing the protests but was also “taking action,” adding that US President Donald Trump had responded to the situation.
“My compatriots, the world has seen your courage and heard your voice. Help is on the way,” Pahlavi said, warning that those responsible for violence would eventually be held accountable.
US President Donald Trump, addressing reporters at Joint Base Andrews, said Iran was “on his mind” and warned of “consequences” if the regime continued violent actions against its own people.
“We’re going to look at the whole situation that’s going on in Iran. Really bad stuff,” Trump said. “When they start killing thousands of people and now you’re telling me about hanging protesters, it’s not going to work out good for them.”
Trump said the US would review reports of killings and alleged executions and added that he would like to see “a little bit of freedom” for the Iranian people. “These people have been living in hell for a long time,” he said.
Responding to questions about Iran’s threats of retaliation, Trump warned Tehran to “behave” and said the regime must show humanity. His remarks came amid heightened US messaging on Iran, with White House officials indicating that multiple options remain under review.
