Former US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to the Iranian regime, stating the United States will take "very strong action" if authorities begin executing people detained during the ongoing nationwide protests.
Trump's Threats and Escalating Tensions
In an interview with CBS News, Trump directly addressed reports of impending hangings, stating, "When they start killing thousands of people – and now you’re telling me about hanging. We’ll see how that’s going to work out for them." His comments come amid increasingly credible reports, cited by two CBS sources, that the death toll from the government crackdown ranges from 2,000 to as many as 20,000 people, based on medical records. The Iranian regime has not provided official casualty figures.
Trump has actively encouraged the demonstrations, urging "Iranian Patriots" in a Truth Social post to "keep protesting – take over your institutions!!! … help is on its way." This followed a statement from the White House press secretary that airstrikes were among the "many, many options" under consideration.
Reports of Imminent Execution and International Response
The warning follows a specific report from the Kurdish rights group Hengaw, which stated that Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old man arrested during protests in Karaj, is scheduled for execution on Wednesday. According to Hengaw, authorities have informed his family that the death sentence is final.
In response to the deteriorating situation, the US State Department has advised American citizens to leave Iran immediately. Its virtual embassy for Iran warned of "continued internet outages" and advised citizens to have a departure plan that does not rely on US government assistance, suggesting travel by land to Armenia or Türkiye if safe.
Diplomatic Moves and Communication Lifelines
Other key developments include:
- Trump announced he was cancelling meetings with Iranian officials "until the senseless killing" stops, signalling a potential breakdown in de-escalation talks.
- Vice-President JD Vance is chairing a National Security Council principals meeting on Iran, after reportedly urging diplomatic efforts.
- Elon Musk’s SpaceX is offering people in Iran free internet access via its Starlink satellite service, according to Bloomberg News, as the nationwide internet blackout surpassed five days.
- Axios reported that Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, held a secret meeting last weekend with Reza Pahlavi, the exiled former crown prince of Iran, to discuss the protests. Pahlavi has previously expressed readiness to lead a transition.
The situation remains highly volatile, with the international community watching closely as internal pressure on the Iranian regime mounts and external threats from the US intensify.
