US President Donald Trump has warned Iran of “very strong action” if authorities carry out executions linked to ongoing protests.
The warning followed reports that Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old protester arrested in Karaj near Tehran, faces imminent execution. Amnesty International said Iranian officials informed his family that he had been sentenced to death after a swift trial.
Trump told CBS News that the United States would respond if Iran began executing protesters. In a post on Truth Social, he urged Iranians to continue protesting and said “help is on its way”.
Iranian rights groups say executions are being used to deter dissent. Iran already ranks as one of the world’s leading executioners, second only to China, according to monitoring groups.
The White House said Trump had cancelled planned meetings with Iranian officials until the violence stops. US officials confirmed that airstrikes are among options under consideration, though no decision has been announced.
The US State Department has advised American citizens to leave Iran if possible and warned of continued internet outages. It said travellers should not rely on US government assistance to depart.
