US condemns death sentence of Iranian soldier who refused to fire on protesters

The US State Department said an Iranian soldier was sentenced to death for refusing to shoot at protesters, calling the case morally unjust and inhumane.

In a post on its Persian-language X account, the department wrote: “According to reports, Javid Khales, a young Iranian soldier, has been sentenced to death for refusing to shoot innocent protesters.”

بنا به گزارش‌ها جاوید خالص، سرباز جوان ایرانی، به‌خاطر امتناع از شلیک به معترضان بی‌گناه به اعدام محکوم شده است. امتناع او نه تنها به‌جا بود، بلکه تنها انتخاب اخلاقی بود. وظیفهٔ سربازان محافظت از شهروندان کشورشان است، و جاوید دقیقاً همین کار را انجام داد. این عمل، قابل سرزنش و… pic.twitter.com/PrkIQm7Kp5

— USAbehFarsi (@USABehFarsi) January 22, 2026

The statement added that “his refusal was not only justified, but the only morally correct choice,” stressing that “a soldier’s duty is to protect the citizens of his country, and Javad did exactly that.”

The account said it was “disgusting and inhumane” that Iranian authorities punish those who refuse to use weapons against civilians.

“No government should demand that its security forces use violence against their own people,” the post added, noting that governments should also refrain from imposing the harshest punishments on those who choose conscience over oppression.

“Javid acted in accordance with his conscience and fulfilled the true duty of a soldier. The response of the Islamic Republic, like many of its other actions, is a stain on its legitimacy,” The State Department concluded.

By Jeyhun Aghazada