Iran’s judiciary is disputing claims that detained protester Erfan Soltani was due to be executed, saying he has not been sentenced to death, according to state media IRIB.
Fears for Soltani have mounted in recent days after the US State Department, his family and human rights groups said Iranian authorities planned to execute the 26-year-old. Soltani was arrested at his home last week in connection with protests in Fardis, a city about 25 miles west of Tehran.
A statement from Iran’s Judiciary Media Center rejected what it called “fabricated news” that claimed Soltani was “arrested and quickly sentenced to death,” IRIB reported.
The judiciary said Soltani was arrested on January 10 and formally charged with “assembly and collusion against the country’s internal security” as well as “propaganda activities” against the regime, according to IRIB.
Soltani is being held at the Central Prison of Karaj, about 42 kilometers (26 miles) northwest of Tehran, the statement said.
US President Donald Trump indicated Wednesday that Iran had backed away from executing Soltani after his case drew global attention.
“There’s no plan for executions or an execution,” Trump told reporters.
A member of Soltani’s family called Somayeh told CNN that his execution had not taken place as planned, but added that it had not been canceled and the family was waiting for more information.


















