WASHINGTON – Tehran has confirmed that Iranian protester Erfan Soltani will not face the death sentence, after US President Donald Trump threatened to take military action if the regime executed anti-government demonstrators.
The Judiciary said Soltani, 26, is being charged with ‘colluding against the country’s internal security and propaganda activities against the regime’ but that the death penalty does not apply to such charges if they are confirmed by a court.
It comes as Trump said he had been told by ‘very important sources on the other side’ the killings of protesters in Iran had been halted, and that executions would not go ahead.
He had earlier warned clerics America would take ‘very strong action’ when asked what he would do if the Iranian regime started executing captured protesters, adding: ‘‘If they hang them you’re going to see something.’’
Soltani, a clothes shop owner, was arrested for taking part in the January 10 protests last week and was being held in the Ghezel Hesar prison in Karaj.
His family was told he would face the death penalty and that his imminent execution was scheduled for January 14.
The Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights told the Daily Mail last night that relatives of Soltani had been informed that the execution order was postponed, however.
Trump had repeatedly talked in recent days about coming to the aid of the Iranian people over the crackdown on protests, which Norway-based Iran Human Rights says has left at least 3 428 people dead.
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