Iranian protester Erfan Soltani, who became one of the faces of the movement against the regime, was released on bail, his lawyer announced Sunday. The 26-year-old was arrested on January 10 at the height of the protests, in a country then largely cut off from the world, without internet access, and marked by a crackdown carried out behind closed doors, according to several human rights organizations.
Accused of "propaganda against the Islamic system" and endangering national security, Erfan Soltani had sparked serious international concern: NGOs and the United States had raised the possibility of his execution, which Tehran denied. According to his lawyer, bail equivalent to approximately €10,600 secured his release.
Disputed death toll, explosive political climate
This announcement comes amid extreme tension. For the first time in two weeks, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei spoke publicly, warning that any American attack would, in his view, trigger "a regional war." He also accused the protesters of attempting a "coup," citing attacks against security forces, government buildings, and religious sites.
The figures for the crackdown remain at the heart of a battle of narratives. The NGO HRANA claims to have recorded more than 42,000 arrests and confirmed 6,713 deaths, mostly protesters, while also mentioning more than 17,000 deaths still under investigation. The authorities, for their part, acknowledge thousands of deaths but maintain that the majority were members of the security forces or bystanders killed by "terrorists."
On the diplomatic front, a glimmer of hope is perceptible. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtchi has suggested that a resumption of nuclear talks through regional mediation is possible, provided that Washington aims for a "fair and equitable" agreement. Donald Trump Iran, for its part, asserted that exchanges were taking place, while the United States reinforces its military presence in the Gulf and Iran says it is on "maximum alert." Meanwhile, the European Union added the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to its list of terrorist organizations, prompting an immediate response from the Iranian Parliament.
