Vengeful Ayatollah preparing first executions of seized Iranian demonstrators as protests gain momentum & deaths mount

AN Iranian is due to be executed tomorrow, just four days after he was seized for taking part in anti-government protests. Erfan Soltani, 26, was held on Saturday in a brutal crackdown by the teetering regime which has seen more than 500 protesters killed and 10,000 arrested. It is thought he was charged with ‘ waging war against God’, which is punishable by death in Iran, following his arrest in the city of Fardis, near Tehran. Supporters say he has not been allowed legal advice and had no chance to defend himself before a verdict of death by hanging was delivered. He was allowed to see his family for just ten minutes yesterday to say goodbye, according to activists. The National Union for Democracy in Iran said: “He was denied access to a lawyer. Erfan’s only crime was calling for freedom.” read more in Iran His execution will be the first of a protester since the uprising began at the end of last year. Tehran is now beginning to expedite court hearings so they can execute convicted “ringleaders of unrest”. Donald Trump, one of Iran’s biggest foes, has responded to the deadly crackdown on civilian protests by threatening to use military force on Tehran in order to restore peace. The US president could decide to attack Iran as soon as today, despite Tehran requesting a meeting in a phone call at the weekend. Most read in The US Sun He will be briefed on specific options on Tuesday and could opt for military action despite Iran pleading with him to negotiate He said: “We may have to act before a meeting. The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options. Iran responded by vowing to target American military and commercial sites if Washington hit them first. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi added: “The Islamic Republic of Iran is not seeking war but is fully prepared for war.” Such an attack would be met with a crushing response, warned Trump. He said: “We will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.” “The leaders of Iran, they want to negotiate. I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei posted a cartoon of a crumbling Trump statue on X and said: “He too will be overthrown.” Deadly protests - which have taken place at 585 locations in 186 cities in all of Iran’s 31 provinces - have now entered a third week. At least 544 people have been killed, including eight children, with 10,681 arrested, among them 169 youngsters. Football referee Amir Mohammad Koohkan, 26, was among those killed when he was shot in the town of Neyriz. A friend said: “Everyone knew him for his kindness.” Footage shows dozens of body bags piled up outside a coroner’s office in Tehran as people form queues to identify the bodies of their loved ones. The Ayatollah’s ruthless security forces are accused of directly killing hundreds of the...

Preview: ~500 words