The United States has issued a stark warning to Iran's regime and urged American citizens to leave the country immediately, as a 26-year-old Iranian protester faces imminent execution. The dramatic escalation follows weeks of widespread anti-government demonstrations that have posed the most significant challenge to Tehran's leadership in decades.
Imminent Execution and US Ultimatum
According to the Norway-based human rights group Hengaw, Erfan Soltani is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, 14 January 2026. The 26-year-old from Fardis, near Tehran, was arrested in connection with protests in the city of Karaj. Hengaw reported that his family had been informed of the death sentence but was deliberately kept in the dark about the judicial process, raising serious concerns about a lack of transparency.
In response, former US President Donald Trump issued a direct threat on his Truth Social platform. He told the Iranian protesters to "keep protesting" and promised that "help is on its way." In a subsequent interview with CBS News, Trump stated he would take "very strong action" if the regime carried out hangings of demonstrators, warning the "killers and abusers" would "pay a big price."
The US State Department has urgently advised its citizens in Iran to "leave Iran now," suggesting departure by land through Turkey or Armenia. This advisory came as Vice President JD Vance convened a National Security Council meeting on Tuesday night to discuss the crisis.
Protests Escalate into a Major Crisis
The unrest, which represents the largest threat to Iran's Islamic regime since the 1979 revolution, began on 28 December. Initial strikes by shopkeepers in Tehran over the collapse of the Iranian currency to a record low quickly spiralled into nationwide protests.
Authorities moved to block internet and telephone connections on 9 January as demonstrations intensified. A brief restoration of phone lines on Tuesday allowed witnesses to report a heavy security presence in central Tehran, with scenes of burned-out government buildings and smashed ATMs. Anti-riot police were seen equipped with batons, shields, shotguns, and tear-gas launchers.
The death toll has climbed sharply. An Iranian official told Reuters that at least 2,000 people have been killed. The US-based rights group HRANA provided a detailed breakdown on Tuesday, stating the figure had reached 2,003, including 1,850 protesters and 135 government-affiliated individuals.
International Condemnation and Regime Response
The international community has reacted with growing alarm. Iran's ambassador to the UK was summoned to the Foreign Office in London on Tuesday afternoon, with several other European countries holding similar meetings. Finland's foreign minister accused Tehran of shutting off the internet "to kill and oppress in silence."
On Monday, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, used a state TV address to criticise the US and praise pro-government demonstrators. He called the pro-regime rallies "a warning to American politicians to stop their deceit."
The crisis unfolds against a backdrop of severe economic strain in Iran, exacerbated by US sanctions reimposed in 2018 and again by the UN in September 2025. In a further economic move, Trump announced on Monday that any countries doing business with Iran would face 25% tariffs from the US. The country is also recovering from a 12-day war in June that saw American and Israeli strikes on its nuclear facilities.
Behind the scenes, diplomatic manoeuvres continue. Reports suggest Trump's Middle East negotiator, Steve Witkoff, held a secret meeting over the weekend with exiled Iranian former crown prince Reza Pahlavi, who has sought to position himself as an opposition figure since the protests began.
With a protester's execution looming and the US promising severe consequences, the situation in Iran remains on a knife-edge, threatening to draw global powers into a deeper confrontation.
