Erfan Soltani, Iranian Protester, Released on Bail

Erfan Soltani, a 26-year-old Iranian protester who was widely reported last month to be awaiting execution, has been released on bail, human rights group Hengaw and Iranian state media said. Hengaw said Mr. Soltani was freed on Saturday after being arrested during anti-government protests.

A lawyer for Mr. Soltani told the Agence France-Presse that a bail of two billion tomans, or around $16,000, had been paid for his release and that he was set free with all of his belongings, including his mobile phone, the report said. The Times noted that Mr. Soltani’s release comes as the United States has amassed forces near Iran; President Trump had threatened U.S.

action to stop the killing of protesters and has said he is weighing new military moves against the Iranian government if it does not meet various demands, the article said. Reports last month that Mr. Soltani had been sentenced to death drew international condemnation, although Iranian authorities later said that they had not issued a death sentence against him.

Press TV, a state outlet, said he had been released on bail and described him as “one of the detainees of the recent foreign-backed riots in Iran, who some foreign media outlets had previously claimed was sentenced to death.” Rights advocates have said Mr.

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