Facing the death penalty: Verdict for the symbolic figure of the protests in Iran!

Erfan Soltani, who was detained in an operation at his home in the Iranian city of Fardis last month and was being tried with the threat of the death penalty, had caused a major stir both in the country and around the world. The charges brought against Soltani included "posing a threat to the country's internal security and preparing a conspiracy." Soltani, who faced the threat of execution throughout his detention, was finally released following the intensification of international reactions.

The US Department of State and Soltani's family had shared with the public allegations that Iranian authorities had issued a death sentence. However, Iranian judicial officials described these reports as "baseless." US President Donald Trump, criticizing the Iranian administration harshly, warned, "If protesters are executed, the consequences will be severe." Trump also stated that he had been given assurances that Soltani's execution had been postponed.

While the Norway-based human rights organization Hengaw announced that Soltani had been released on bail, Iran's official broadcaster Press TV also confirmed this development. Soltani's family stated that this release has created hope for other detainees who are under death threats due to the demonstrations.

Following the large-scale protests that began in late December, Iranian security institutions carried out harsh interventions against the demonstrators. According to CNN, more than 6 thousand protesters have lost their lives so far, and more than a thousand people have been detained. The intermittent cutting of internet access in the country and the increase in security measures brought Soltani's case to the center of the global agenda.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, claimed that the US ignited the fuse of the protests and accused Trump of inciting rebellion. Khamenei warned against the possibility of foreign intervention, saying, "The Americans should know that if they start a war, it will be a regional war."

The US government, on the other hand, has put military options on its agenda after negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear program and missile production remained inconclusive. While threats from the Trump administration continue, Iranian authorities argue that diplomacy should be given a chance.

While the release of Erfan Soltani is considered an exemplary development for those arrested in the protests, it is noted that the rising tension between Iran and the US will grow even further in the coming period.