Arrest Occurred Amid Nationwide Anti‑Government Protests Iranian security forces detained 26‑year‑old clothing‑shop owner Erfan Soltani in the Tehran suburb of Fardis, with CNN reporting the arrest on 10 January 2026 and the BBC citing 8 January 2026, reflecting a slight date discrepancy across outlets. Authorities charged him with “assembly and collusion against the country’s internal security” and “propaganda activities” against the regime, linking the case to the broader anti‑government demonstrations that began in late December 2025. The arrests occurred as security forces intensified a lethal crackdown on protesters across the country [1][2].

Bail Granted After Conflicting Death‑Sentence Reports On 2 February 2026, Soltani was released after a bail of two billion tomans (≈ $12,600) was posted, a detail confirmed by his lawyer Amir Mousakhani and the Kurdish rights group Hengaw. Earlier reports from both outlets claimed a death sentence had been issued within days of his detention, but the judiciary later asserted that he faces only prison terms for security‑related offenses, creating a clear contradiction between the alleged capital punishment and the official charge list. The bail release followed intense international pressure and the clarification that the execution was merely postponed, not cancelled [1][2].

U.S. Officials Threatened Action Over Potential Executions President Donald Trump publicly stated he had “good authority” that Iran would not execute Soltani and warned Tehran of “very strong action” should executions continue, echoing his earlier pledge to respond forcefully to any death‑penalty enforcement. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused the United States of encouraging the protests, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told U.S. television that there was “no plan” to hang anyone, highlighting the diplomatic tug‑of‑war surrounding the case. These statements underscore the heightened tension between Washington and Tehran amid the broader crackdown [1][2].

Human‑Rights Groups Document Tens of Thousands Killed The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) verified more than 6,300 killings since the unrest began, with CNN noting HRANA’s figure of 6,400 and the BBC reporting a parallel verification. Norway‑based Iran Human Rights (IHR) warned that the total death toll could exceed 25,000 as additional reports are investigated, illustrating the massive scale of the security forces’ response to the protests. Both outlets agree that the death toll remains under intense scrutiny and likely far higher than official Iranian counts [1][2].