Iran Judiciary Rejects Execution Claims as Officials Signal Easing of Tensions Over Protest Arrests

Iran’s judiciary has firmly denied reports that it planned to execute Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old man detained in connection with the country’s recent wave of protests, amid growing international scrutiny and diplomatic pressure.

Earlier this week, Norway-based Kurdish human rights organisation Hengaw claimed that Soltani’s family had been informed he was due to be executed on Wednesday, only days after his arrest. The group later said the family had been told the execution was “postponed”, while stressing that “serious and ongoing concerns” for his life remained.

However, Iran’s judiciary dismissed the reports outright, stating that Soltani is facing charges of “colluding against national security” and engaging in “propaganda activities against the establishment”. According to officials, neither of these charges carries the death penalty under Iranian law. State broadcaster IRIB quoted judicial authorities as describing claims by foreign media that Soltani faced imminent execution as a “blatant act of news fabrication”.

The denial was reinforced by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said there was “no plan” to carry out executions linked to the recent protests, seeking to reassure both domestic and international audiences.

The issue has attracted significant attention abroad, particularly after US President Donald Trump warned that Washington would take “very strong action” if Iran proceeded with executing protesters. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump said he had been informed by “very important sources on the other side” that executions were not going ahead. “The killing in Iran is stopping, and there’s no plan for executions,” he said.

The statements from Iran’s judiciary and senior officials, alongside comments from international leaders, have helped to ease immediate fears over Soltani’s fate, although human rights groups continue to monitor the situation closely as legal proceedings move forward.