Execution of Iranian protester Erfan Soltani postponed, family says

The family of Soltani was arrested at his home after taking part in a protest last week.(X/Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights) Protesters chant slogans in an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026.(AP Photo)(AP) Soltani has reportedly been denied legal aid, with his family also restricted from visiting him.(Hengaw Organisation for Human Rights) Australians in Iran are being urged to leave as soon as possible.(AP) In this photo obtained by The Associated Press, Iranians attend an anti-government protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(AP) detained Iranian protester Erfan Soltani have said his execution was postponed, as US President Donald Trump said he had received assurances that the "killing has stopped". "We were told that the killing in Iran is stopping, and there's no plan for executions," Trump said from the Oval Office on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) after earlier warning Iran against executing protesters. "The killing has stopped. The executions have stopped." The State Department and a family member had raised the prospect that Iran could execute Soltani, 26, who was detained less than a week ago for joining anti-government demonstrations. A member of Soltani's family called Somayeh told CNN on Wednesday that the execution had not taken place as planned, but added that it had not been cancelled and the family was waiting for more information. She said the outcome was "definitely" influenced by Trump's involvement in the case. Hengaw, a Norway-based human rights organisation, also reported late on Wednesday that Soltani's execution had been postponed. "There's no plan for executions or an execution," Trump told reporters on Wednesday. "I've been told that on good authority. We'll find out about it. I'm sure if it happens, I'll be very upset." Trump did not immediately elaborate on the source of his information. Iran's judiciary on Thursday, however, indicated that Soltani had not been sentenced to death, according to state broadcaster IRIB. It quoted Iran's Judiciary Media Centre as saying such reports were "fabricated news". 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. Even if he his charges were substantiated, the judiciary claimed he would not be sentenced to death because that penalty did not apply to his charges. He is being held at the Central Prison of Karaj, about 42 kilometres northwest of Tehran, the judiciary statement said. A "warm-hearted young man" In a Tuesday post on X, the State Department said Iranian authorities planned to execute Soltani, who was arrested at his home last week in connection with protests in Fardis, a city about 25 miles west of Tehran. "More than 10,600 Iranians have been arrested by the Islamic Republic regime simply for demanding their basic rights. Erfan Soltani, 26, whose death sentence was issued for January 14, is among them," the State Department said. Speaking to CNN on Tuesday, Somayeh, who declined to be identified by her full name due to security...

Preview: ~500 words