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Iran's justice chief vows swift trials and executions for protesters
Iran's judiciary head announced Wednesday that expedited trials and potential executions will continue for thousands of detained protesters from nationwide unrest, directly defying President Donald Trump's warning of "very tough measures" if the Islamic Republic hangs dissidents. Gholamhossein Mohseni-Eje'i made the statement in a state TV video, stressing urgency: "If we want to do something, we must do it now. If we want to do something, we must do it quickly. If it's too late, in two months, three months, it won't have the same effect."
The pledge came as rights groups reported 26-year-old clothing seller Erfan Soltani from Fardis near Tehran faced becoming the first protester executed over the unrest. His fate remained unclear Wednesday, with the Hengaw rights organization unable to confirm due to Iran's ongoing communications blackout. Soltani was arrested January 8 during Karaj protests and notified four days later of his death sentence, per multiple rights organizations. His family got just 10 minutes for final goodbyes, raising immediate alarms over judicial safeguards.
"His family was deliberately kept in the dark" about proceedings, Hengaw reported, adding the "rushed and non-transparent handling reinforces fears that the death penalty is being used as a tool to suppress protests." Soltani's lawyer sister tried to defend him but faced authorities denying any case file to review and threats of arrest if the family spoke out. The State Department confirmed the scheduled execution, stating: "This time, Islamic Republic authorities didn't even bother with their usual 10-minute sham trial; Erfan was sentenced to execution without any legal process or defense lawyer."
The crackdown has claimed at least 2,571 lives, per U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, far exceeding any protest death toll in Iran in decades. The group noted over 18,000 arrests since late December demonstrations, initially driven by economic grievances but expanding into broader anti-government actions across all 31 provinces. An internet blackout exceeding 132 hours has severely hindered independent casualty verification. Rare contacts via limited phone calls and smuggled Starlink terminals described security forces shooting unarmed protesters, with snipers on rooftops.
In a CBS News interview aired Tuesday, Trump warned Iranian leaders: "We will take very tough measures. If they do such a thing, we will take very tough measures." Pressed for details, he referenced past U.S. operations, including strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, and urged Iranians to "keep protesting," promising "help is on the way." Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeed Iravani accused Trump of "openly encouraging political destabilization" and "inciting violence" in a Security Council letter. Tehran has framed the protests as foreign-instigated violence, blaming the U.S. and Israel.
