Iran set to hang protester in what would mark first execution tied to anti-regime demonstrations

Iran is reportedly acceptable to execute its archetypal protester successful transportation with wide arrests implicit the wide anti-regime demonstrations, according to quality rights groups.

Erfan Soltani, 26, is scheduled to beryllium hanged to decease connected Wednesday aft helium was arrested past week during the protests successful Karaj, the NGO groups Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) and National Union for Democracy successful Iran (NUFD) said.

"His household was told that helium had been sentenced to decease and that the condemnation is owed to beryllium carried retired connected 14 January," sources told IHRNGO.

IHRNGO Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said successful a connection that "the wide sidesplitting of civilian protesters successful caller days by the Islamic Republic is reminiscent of the regime’s crimes successful the 1980s, which person been recognized arsenic crimes against humanity."

RAND PAUL SAYS TRUMP'S THREAT TO BOMB IRAN 'IS NOT THE ANSWER': NOT THE 'JOB OF THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT'

Fires are lit arsenic protesters rally connected January 8, 2026, successful Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images)

"The hazard of wide and extrajudicial executions of protesters is highly serious," the connection added. "Under the Responsibility to Protect, the planetary assemblage has a work to support civilian protesters against wide killings by the Islamic Republic and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. We telephone connected radical and civilian nine successful antiauthoritarian countries to punctual their governments of this responsibility."

The NUFD is calling for planetary enactment to halt Soltani’s execution, stressing that his "only transgression was calling for freedom" for Iran.

"Be his voice," the radical wrote connected X.

Soltani was allegedly denied entree to a lawyer, according to the NUFD.

According to The US Sun, Soltani was charged with "waging warfare against God," a transgression punishable by decease successful Iran.

Soltani’s alleged execution has yet to beryllium independently verified amid a communications blackout arsenic the country's leaders question to quell the dissent.

More than 10,000 radical person reportedly been arrested successful caller weeks for participating successful the anti-government protests sparked by Iran’s failing economy, according to quality rights groups, and galore person begun to request full authorities alteration arsenic the demonstrations continue.

An overturned car is seen connected January 8, 2026, successful Tehran, Iran. (Getty Images)

Tehran's crackdown connected the demonstrations has besides led to much than 500 deaths, quality rights groups said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Tehran that unit against the protesters would beryllium met with a U.S. subject response, saying connected Friday that they "better not commencement shooting, due to the fact that we’ll commencement shooting, too."

"Iran is looking astatine FREEDOM, possibly similar ne'er before. The USA stands acceptable to help!!!" Trump wrote connected Truth Social connected Saturday.

The White House confirmed connected Monday that Trump was weighing whether to weaponry Iran.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that diplomacy remains Trump’s archetypal option, but that the president "has shown he’s unafraid to usage subject options if and erstwhile helium deems necessary."

"He surely doesn’t privation to spot radical being killed successful the streets of Tehran. And unluckily that’s thing we are seeing close now," she added.

IRAN'S KHAMENEI ISSUES DIRECT WARNING TO UNITED STATES IN RUSSIAN-LANGUAGE POSTS

A masked demonstrator holds a representation of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protestation successful Tehran, Iran, connected Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

But galore legislature lawmakers, including immoderate wrong the Republican Party, person criticized the president's threats to weaponry Iran, with respective arguing that helium needs support from Congress nether the Constitution, that the U.S. should not beryllium progressive successful different overseas matter and that subject enactment could rally Iranian protesters down the Ayatollah.

"We privation them the best," Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said connected Sunday. "We privation state and liberation the champion crossed the world, but I don't deliberation it's the occupation of the American authorities to beryllium progressive with each state question astir the satellite … If you weaponry the government, bash you past rally radical to their emblem who are upset with the Ayatollah, but past say, 'Well, gosh, we can't person a overseas authorities invading oregon bombing our country?' It tends to person radical rally to the cause."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"Plus, determination is this sticking constituent of the Constitution that we won't fto presidents weaponry countries conscionable erstwhile they consciousness similar it," helium added. "They're expected to inquire the people, done the Congress, for permission."

Iranian officials person threatened to retaliate against U.S. troops successful the portion if the Pentagon were to strike, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying that Tehran is "fully prepared for war."