Overview
- Iran’s judiciary said Soltani has not been sentenced to death and that the charges reported against him—colluding against internal security and propaganda activities—do not carry the death penalty if confirmed by a court.
- Rights groups and relatives previously reported a death sentence and a Jan. 14 execution that was later described as postponed, with his family citing limited access and blocked attempts to review his case file.
- President Trump warned of very strong action if protesters were hanged and said he was told killings and planned executions had stopped, adding that he would watch the situation before deciding on next steps.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said there would be no hanging “today or tomorrow,” as officials pressed fast-track trials and asserted the government was in full control.
- Unrest over economic collapse persists under strict communication curbs, with rights monitors reporting thousands killed, a brief airspace closure reported on Wednesday, and a UN Security Council session on Iran expected later Thursday.