Iran Anti Khamenei Protests: A big and worrying news has come to light amid the ongoing protests against Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran. It is being told that for the first time, death penalty can be given in a case related to these demonstrations. According to reports, 26-year-old Irfan Soltani is set to be hanged and this punishment can be implemented on Wednesday.

Irfan Soltani is a resident of Fardis area of ​​Karaj city near Tehran. He was arrested on January 8 for participating in the demonstration against Khamenei. Human rights organizations and media say that the date of his death sentence has been fixed and it can be executed any time now.

Death sentence for the first time

The death penalty has been used in Iran before to suppress protests, but in most cases people were shot to death. This is said to be the first case of hanging during the current protests.

Fast trial and atmosphere of fear?

According to reports by Israeli and US-based news outlet Jfeed, Soltani’s case could be the beginning of faster sentences. The report says that the Iranian government wants to stop further demonstrations by taking such strict action.

Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, a Kurdish human rights organization registered in Norway, has raised serious questions about the legal process in this case. The organization says that transparency has not been maintained in the entire process.

Accused of being deprived of legal rights

According to reports, after his arrest, Irfan Soltani was not given a chance to meet his lawyer and explain himself. His family was also kept away from important information about the case, it was not even clearly told which agency arrested him.

Quoting the Hangau organization, Zafid said that Soltani’s family was informed about his death sentence on January 11. After this the family was allowed to meet him only for 10 minutes. A source close to the family said that the authorities have made it clear that the punishment is final and will be implemented in due course.

Even the lawyer sister did not get permission

According to sources, Soltani’s sister, herself a licensed lawyer, tried to pursue the case through legal channels. But he was not allowed to see the case file, represent his brother or challenge the sentence.

Lebanese-Australian businessman Mario Noufal has claimed on social media platform X that around 2,000 people have died so far in the current protests. He said that the government wants to control the crowd by using fear.

Why did the protests erupt?

This new wave of protests in Iran started in late December 2025. The reason for this is said to be serious economic crisis. People are troubled by the sharp fall in the value of the Iranian currency Riyal, inflation and rising prices of everyday items.

The demonstrations initially started in the markets of Tehran, but soon spread to other cities. Shopkeepers, students and common people came out on the streets. Now this movement has become one of the largest anti-government movements in the country, in which people are demanding reforms and an end to the rule of religious leadership.

A large number of protests are taking place in Iran after the economic crisis that has been going on for the last one month. The appeal of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi is being considered an important reason behind the sudden protests that broke out in many big cities of the country on Thursday night (January 8, 2026). The situation became so bad that the Iranian government had to shut down internet services in the entire country.

These demonstrations got a new direction when Raza Pahlavi released a video message on the social media platform X and appealed to the people to take to the streets at 8 pm. Within a few hours of the appeal, thousands of people came out, due to which the intensity of the movement suddenly increased. Reza Pahlavi said, ‘The Iranian people have demanded freedom and in response the regime has closed the Internet and all means of communication.’

My fellow countrymen, today, Wednesday January 7th, your presence across Iran was unprecedented.

And this constitutes a declaration of readiness for tomorrow’s plan (the call for Thursday January 8th, at 8 pm).

Of course, reports have reached us that the regime is deeply… https://t.co/JJiTNZ8cxW

— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) January 7, 2026

Who is Reza Pahlavi?

Reza Pahlavi is the son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran. He was born on 31 October 1960. He was officially declared Crown Prince in 1967. However, after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the royal family had to leave Iran. Currently he is living in America. He has received education in political science from America and describes himself as a supporter of secular, democratic and human rights Iran.

Why did public anger erupt?

A large number of people took to the streets in Tehran, Mashhad and other major cities on Thursday night. The protesters raised slogans against the religious leadership of Iran. Slogans like ‘Death to the dictator’, ‘End of Islamic Republic’ and ‘Pahlavi will return’ kept echoing till late night. According to experts, there is a deep economic crisis at the root of the movement. At present, the Iranian currency Rial has fallen to a historic low. Inflation and unemployment are at their peak. The economy is in a dilapidated condition due to international sanctions. In these circumstances, the anger of the youth and middle class is now coming out openly.

Government’s response

As the protests intensified, the government shut down internet and landline services. Increased deployment of security forces. There are reports of use of force in many areas. During this period, 42 people have also died. According to human rights organizations, the number of casualties in the repressive action may increase.

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