On Thursday, US President Donald Trump hailed the “good news” that Iran will not execute protesters, saying he hoped it would continue.
“FoxNews: ‘Iranian protester will no longer be sentenced to death after President Trump’s warnings. Likewise, others.’ This is good news. Hopefully, it will continue!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Iran’s judiciary denied media claims that a man was sentenced to death for taking part in anti-government protests that have swept the country in recent days.
Reports said that Erfan Soltani, 26, was arrested and quickly handed a death sentence for taking part in demonstrations sparked by worsening economic conditions. The judiciary’s media center dismissed the reports as “fabricated,” saying Soltani was detained on Jan. 10 and faces charges of “gathering and conspiring against national security and propaganda activities.”
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The center added that Soltani is currently being held in prison in Karaj, a city on the outskirts of Tehran. It said that if prosecutors confirm the charges and a court issues a ruling, Soltani would face a prison sentence under Iranian law, but that the death penalty does not apply to such charges.
The protests began in Tehran late last month before spreading to several other cities. Worsening economic conditions have driven Iranians to the streets, risking arrest and worse to speak out against the government. Iranian officials have accused the United States and Israel of supporting what they have described as “riots” and “terrorism.”
On Tuesday, Trump told CBS News that Washington would take “very strong action” if Iranian authorities executed protesters. He has repeatedly signaled he wants to be seen as protecting demonstrators, though rights groups warn that the reality is far more dangerous than what Trump portrays online.
The Iranian Armed Forces social media account wasted no time trolling Trump. Its post read: “In Iran, the punishment for murder and rape is the death penalty, unlike in the United States, where PEDOPHILE become head of the state.”
In Iran, the punishment for murder and rape is the death penalty, unlike in the United States, where PEDOPHILE become head of the state.. pic.twitter.com/oKjhSCtmhV
— Iran Armed Forces (@Iran_Armed) January 15, 2026
International observers are watching the protests closely. The United Nations Security Council has discussed Iran’s crackdown, and countries including France, the UK, Canada, and Germany have condemned Tehran’s use of force and threatened further sanctions
Featured image via X screengrab
