Update on man set to be executed in Iran after Trump warned ‘very strong action’
Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old shopkeeper, was arrested and sentenced to death after taking part in a protest in Fardis, west of Tehran, on January 8. The protests and demonstrations were triggered by the collapse of Iran’s currency, the rial, on December 28, with citizens demanding political reform.
The anti-regime protests that have swept the country witnessed the killing of thousands in a crackdown by authorities, rights groups claim, while Erfan Soltani remains the sole individual facing execution following an arrest.
Hengaw, an Iranian Kurdish rights group, claimed Soltani had been denied access to legal counsel, with a relative telling BBC Persian that an Iranian court had issued a death sentence “in an extremely rapid process, within just two days.”
The family had reached to US President Donald Trump for help, hoping he would stand on Iran’s way of proceeding with the execution, which is exactly what Trump did.
“Our demand now is that Trump truly stand behind the words he said, because the Iranian people came to the streets based on those statements,” she told CNN. “An unarmed population trusted these words and is now under gunfire. I beg you, please do not let Erfan be executed. Please.”
Trump warned that the US would “take very strong action” if “peaceful protestors” were executed by Iran. Speaking to CBS News, the POTUS said, “We don’t want to see what’s happening in Iran happen.
“And you know, if they want to have protests, that’s one thing, when they start killing thousands of people, and now you’re telling me about hanging – we’ll see how that works out for them. It’s not going to work out good.”
He then threatened that Iranian officials would pay a “big price” if protesters of the regime were put to death.
Trump also took to Truth Social to express his stand on the possible execution of young Soltani.
Following Trump’s threats, Soltani’s execution has been postponed.
The US State Department and the US virtual embassy in Iran released a notice saying American citizens should leave Iran now if it’s safe to do so. They advised Americans to consider departing by land through neighboring countries like Turkey or Armenia, since flights and travel may be disrupted.
Trump also announced on Monday that any countries doing business with Iran will face 25% tariffs from the US, News Sky reported. However, while several European countries – including France, Spain, Finland, Belgium, UK, and Germany – called in Iranian ambassadors in response to the violence, China, Iran’s top trading partner, has pushed back against Trump’s 25% tariff on trade with the regime.
Soltani’s family knows little to nothing about his condition. A friend of the family told The Guardian before the stay of execution was revealed: “I spoke to his family yesterday and all I know is that they were trying to visit him in prison. I haven’t slept in two days.”
She added: “How can anyone have the heart to put a rope round the neck of such a kind child and send him to die?”
Addressing the US president directly, she said: “Our demand now is that Trump truly stand behind the words he said, because the Iranian people came to the streets based on those statements.
“An unarmed population trusted these words and is now under gunfire. I beg you, please do not let Erfan be executed. Please.”
Please SHARE this article with your family and friends on Facebook.
Bored Daddy
Love and Peace