Man to be executed today will have ten minutes to say goodbye to family as Trump vows 'very strong action'

The family of a 26-year-old protester set to be put to death in Iran are 'begging' Donald Trump to intervene before it is too late.

Relatives of Erfan Soltani have called on the US President to step in after reports emerged claiming that the shopkeeper is set to be executed today (14 January).

He was arrested last Thursday (8 January) in relation to his attendance at a protest in Fardis, Karaj, which came just four days before his loved ones were reportedly notified that he would be killed.

More than 18,100 people have been detained in Iran since demonstrations began erupting across the nation in December following the collapse of its currency, the rial.

According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, 2,403 protestors have died over the last few weeks as security forces launched a bloody crackdown.

The head of Iran’s judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, then announced that those who have been detained at demonstrations will be subject to fast trials and executions.

Demonstrators have been taking to the streets since late December in Iran (Anonymous/Getty Images)

In a video shared by Iranian state TV, he said: "If we want to do a job, we should do it now. If we want to do something, we have to do it quickly. If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect. If we want to do something, we have to do that fast."

Prior to this, in an interview with CBS aired on Tuesday (13 January), Trump had warned that the US would 'take very strong action' if Iran started executing 'peaceful protestors'.

"If they do such a thing, we will take very strong action," the commander-in-chief, 79, said. "We don’t want to see what’s happening in Iran happen.

"And you know, if they want to have protests, that’s one thing, when they start killing thousands of people, and now you’re telling me about hanging - we’ll see how that works out for them. It’s not going to work out good."

He also warned in a post on Truth Social that Iranian officials would 'pay a big price' for putting demonstrators to death, while urging people to 'keep protesting'.

Now, Soltani's loved ones are urging Trump to put his money where his mouth is and take action, amid reports that he will face execution on Wednesday.

According to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, he is facing 'the imminent execution of a death sentence following a rapid and opaque judicial process'.

Soltani's loved ones are calling on Trump to intervene before it is too late (Hengaw Organization for Human Rights)

It explains: "His family learned only days after his arrest that the execution is scheduled to take place this Wednesday. His family has been denied access to any information regarding the charges, case file, or judicial proceedings.

"A source close to the Soltani family told Hengaw that authorities informed them the death sentence is final and will be carried out on Wednesday.

"The family has reportedly been granted only a brief opportunity for a final visit prior to the execution."

The human rights organisation claims that Soltani has been 'deprived of his most basic rights', including access to a lawyer, 'the right to defence and other fundamental due process guarantees', since being detained.

"The rushed and non-transparent handling of this case has heightened concerns over the use of the death penalty as a tool to suppress public protests," it added.

A relative of Soltani, named Somayeh, personally pleaded with Trump to 'stand behind the words he said' now that the shopkeeper is seemingly up against a ticking clock.

Speaking to CNN, she said that Soltani was an 'incredibly kind and warm-hearted young man' who has 'always fought for the freedom of Iran'.

The President warned that the US would take 'very strong action' against Iran if protestors were put to death (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

"Our demand now is that Trump truly stand behind the words he said, because the Iranian people came to the streets based on those statements," Somayeh said.

"An unarmed population trusted these words and is now under gunfire. I beg you, please do not let Erfan be executed. Please.

"I cried so much... I keep feeling as if I am in a dream. [Soltani] has always fought for the freedom of Iran, and today we see him standing under the gallows."

She also insisted that Soltani has never 'resorted to violence' during protests while making her poignant plea, while describing him as a person who 'always wanted people to be at least free in the most basic aspects of life'.

Arina Moradi, from the Hengaw Organization, told The Telegraph that this 'is the quickest we have seen a case move'.

"This is the pattern of the Islamic Republic – for the judiciary to swiftly punish protesters with the death penalty," she said of Soltani's reportedly scheduled execution. "This will certainly not be a single case."

If it goes ahead, he will be the first person who has been put to death in relation to the current unrest in Iran.