The family of a young Iranian shopkeeper sentenced to death for protesting has issued a desperate, last-minute plea to former US President Donald Trump, begging him to intervene and stop the execution scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
A Tearful Ten-Minute Goodbye
Erfan Soltani, aged 26, was given just ten minutes for a final, tearful farewell with his relatives after Iran's judicial authorities handed down the death sentence. His case is part of a brutal crackdown by the regime on widespread unrest, which has been fuelled by domestic economic woes and poses a significant challenge to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's long rule.
If carried out, Soltani would be among the first anti-government protesters to be executed following the recent mass demonstrations. The regime has branded those arrested as "rioters" and "terrorists", moving with unusual speed to fast-track legal proceedings. This is a stark departure from Iran's typical timeline for death penalty cases, which often take years, despite the country having one of the world's highest execution rates.
'We Need Trump's Help by the Second'
In an emotional interview with CNN, one of Soltani's cousins, Somayeh, directly appealed to the former American president. "We need Trump's help by the second. I beg you, please do not let Erfan be executed, please," she stated.
Somayeh emphasised that protesters had taken to the streets trusting Trump's previous promises of "very strong action" if Iran began executing prisoners detained during the protests. She expressed utter shock at the news of her cousin's fate, saying, "I was in so much shock, I cried so much... I keep feeling as if I am in a dream."
She described Erfan as a man who "always wanted people to be at least free in the most basic aspects of life" and who had fought for Iran's freedom. "Today we see him standing under the gallows," she added, vehemently denying he had ever resorted to violence and accusing the regime of fabricating charges to justify executing the youth.
Mounting Toll and International Warnings
The execution is set against a backdrop of severe violence. While Iranian officials admit to around 600 deaths, independent human rights organisations and credible reports estimate the true fatality figure from the crackdown is closer to 2,000 people.
Donald Trump has repeatedly commented on the situation via his Truth Social platform. He has urged Iranian protesters to "keep protesting – take over your institutions", assuring them that "help is on its way". In a clear warning to Tehran's authorities, he stated they would "pay a big price" for the killings and claimed to have cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials until the violence stops.
As the clock ticks down to the scheduled hanging, the international spotlight intensifies on Iran's human rights record and the fate of Erfan Soltani, whose family's hope now rests on a dramatic, high-stakes intervention.
