President Donald Trump has said the US will take 'very strong action' against Iran if it executes protesters, as rights groups say more than 2,400 anti-government demonstrators have been killed in a violent crackdown by Iranian authorities.
Relatives of 26-year-old Erfan Soltani, who was detained last week, have told BBC Persian that he is due to be executed on Wednesday. A representative from the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights cited an 'extremely rapid process' in Soltani's case.
Speaking to CBS News, Trump warned: 'If they hang them, you're going to see some things... We will take very strong action if they do such a thing.'
Soltani's relative indicated the rapid issuance of a death sentence, raising alarms among human rights advocates, while Trump hints at possible military action and other responses to the Iranian regime's brutality.
After a meeting to discuss the Iranian situation, Trump stated, 'Once we have the numbers, we’ll act accordingly.' Meanwhile, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has identified the deaths of numerous protesters and highlighted the catastrophic humanitarian impact of the government’s actions.
The protests, ignited by economic hardship, have spread to 180 cities, escalating amid an internet blackout, and have been met with severe state violence. Hospitals are overwhelmed with casualties, with reports indicating that authorities are treating these activists with hostility and threatening them with life sentences.
Trump has canceled meetings with Iranian officials and indicated that Iranian authorities are accountable for the violence. The rhetoric escalates as the Iranian government deflects blame onto 'terrorists' while continuing harsh retaliatory measures against dissenters.
