Iranian authorities have released detained protester Erfan Soltani on bail, his lawyer confirmed on Sunday, following strong warnings from the United States over the possible execution of anti-government demonstrators.
Washington had earlier claimed Soltani was on death row and warned of military action if Iran carried out executions linked to the protests. Tehran denied the allegation, insisting Soltani had never been sentenced to death and that the charges against him did not carry capital punishment.
Soltani, 26, was arrested in January on accusations of spreading propaganda against Iran’s Islamic system and acting against national security, according to the judiciary.
The release comes amid heightened tensions after Iran’s deadly crackdown on protests sparked by rising living costs, which later evolved into widespread anti-government demonstrations. US President Donald Trump has threatened military action and ordered an aircraft carrier group to the Middle East.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Sunday described the unrest as a failed “coup” and warned that any US attack would trigger a regional war. He accused protesters of attacking security forces, government institutions, banks and mosques, saying the unrest had been “suppressed”.
Iranian authorities acknowledge thousands of deaths during the protests and on Sunday published the names of 2,986 people killed, with 131 still unidentified. Officials maintain that most of the victims were security personnel or bystanders, blaming the violence on “terrorist acts”.
However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said it has verified 6,713 deaths, the majority of them protesters.
The unrest prompted the European Union to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. In response, Iranian lawmakers declared European armies terrorist entities, wearing IRGC uniforms in parliament and chanting anti-US, anti-Israel and anti-EU slogans.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he was concerned about possible miscalculations but suggested that renewed talks with Washington were possible if the US pursued a fair nuclear agreement. Tehran has said it is open to negotiations provided its missile and defence capabilities are excluded.
Despite ongoing threats, officials on both sides confirmed that diplomatic contacts were continuing.
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