Iran sentences young protester to death as Trump warns of "strong action"

Iranian protester Erfan Soltani, 26, who was arrested on January 8 during anti-government protests in Fardis, west of Tehran, has been sentenced to death, with the sentence scheduled to be carried out on January 14, according to sources close to his family cited by the Oslo-based human rights organisation Iran Human Rights.

The exact charges against Soltani are not yet clear.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with CBS News that the United States could take “very strong action” if Iran executes protesters. "We will take very strong action. If they do such a thing, we will take very strong action," Trump told "CBS Evening News" anchor Tony Dokoupil during an exclusive network interview in Dearborn, Michigan.  

Trump said he's aware a "pretty substantial number" of people have been killed over the more than two weeks of demonstrations. Sources tell CBS News at least 12,000 — and possibly upwards of 20,000 — are now feared dead, as videos show body bags lined up at a morgue in Tehran.  

In a post on Social Truth on January 13: "Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

The new round of protests, which began on 28 December 2025 in Tehran’s bazaar over poor economic conditions, quickly spread to other parts of Iran, accompanied by anti-government slogans. Until the internet blackout, protests had spread to all 31 provinces and around 120 cities.

By Khagan Isayev