Trump says crackdown ‘on my mind’ as Iran unrest grows, protest-linked execution looms
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – Human Rights groups on Wednesday warned that Iran is preparing to execute a young protester as nationwide demonstrations continue, with thousands detained and international concern mounting over the government’s crackdown.
Iran is bracing for a fresh wave of outrage as authorities move to execute a young protester, marked what rights groups say would be the first execution linked to the current anti-government protests.
According to human rights organizations cited by the New York Post, 26-year-old Erfan Soltani is scheduled to be hanged on Wednesday.
He was arrested during demonstrations in Karaj last Thursday.
Iran Human Rights and the National Union for Democracy in Iran said Soltani was detained for participating in protests and is now facing the charge of “waging war against God”, an offence that carries the death penalty under Iranian law.
The NUFD said Soltani’s “only crime is calling for freedom for Iran”.
The group has appealed for urgent international intervention, warning that Soltani has not been allowed access to legal counsel. His case, rights groups say, reflects the speed and severity with which protest-related arrests are being pushed through Iran’s judicial system.
The looming execution came after sustained unrest across Iran, media and rights group reported.
Data released by the Human Rights Activists News Agency showed that by the end of the 17th day of protests, 614 demonstrations had been recorded across 187 cities, spanning all 31 provinces of the country.
The agency said at least 18,434 people have been detained so far.
It also confirmed the deaths of 2,403 protesters, including 12 children. In addition, 147 members of security forces and government supporters have been killed, among them at least five civilian supporters of the government.
The figures underlined the scale of the crackdown as protests continue to challenge the authority of Iran’s leadership.
Reza Pahlavi, Iran’s exiled crown prince, issued a message of support to protesters and appealed to the country’s armed forces.
In a video shared on X, Pahlavi said the world was no longer just watching but beginning to act.
He urged Iranians to sustain pressure on the Khamenei-led establishment and warned that those responsible for violence would ultimately be held accountable.
“My compatriots, as I told you in my previous message, the world not only saw and heard your courage and voice but is taking action,” he said.
“By now, you have undoubtedly heard the message from the President of the United States. Help is on the way.”
Trump said Iran was “on his mind” as reports of the crackdown mounted.
“We’re going to look at the whole situation that’s going on in Iran. Really bad stuff,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews.
“But Iran is on my mind when I see the kind of death that is happening over there.”
The execution threat against Soltani, rights groups said could become a defining moment, both for the protest movement and for how the international community responds to Iran’s deepening crisis.
