Norway-based Kurdish human rights organisation Hengaw said earlier this week that the family of Erfan Soltani, 26, had been told he faced execution on Wednesday, only days after he was detained. On Wednesday, Hengaw cited them as saying Soltani's execution had been "postponed" but warned that "serious and ongoing concerns" regarding his life remained. "This is good news. Hopefully, it will continue!" said US President Donald Trump, who had warned Iran not to execute protesters.

The judiciary said he faced charges of "colluding against national security" and "propaganda activities against the establishment", which are not punishable by the death penalty, state broadcaster IRIB reported. They said reports by foreign media organisations that Soltani faced execution was a "blatant act of news fabrication". Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also said there was "no plan" to hang people. It came after President Trump threatened to take "very strong action" if executions were carried out, amid mounting speculation of possible US military strikes. On Wednesday, he told reporters that "very important sources on the other side" had informed him "the killing in Iran is stopping, and there's no plan for executions". (BBC)