Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, has issued a strong call for the dismantling of Iran’s current regime amid persisting protests. This comes as the world anxiously awaits the fate of a 26-year-old protester, whose potential execution might provoke intervention from the United States, a possibility already alluded to by President Donald Trump.
In a heartfelt message on X, Graham expressed his sorrow regarding the imminent execution of Erfan Soltani, a young shopkeeper. Soltani faces the death penalty imposed by Iranian authorities simply for participating in street protests advocating for a better future. Graham highlighted the desperate plea from Soltani’s family, urging global support for their son.
The senator expressed his hope that Soltani’s life would be spared, emphasizing a desire for the young man to experience freedom without fear. Graham stressed the necessity for the current Iranian regime to be overthrown, advocating for improved living conditions for the Iranian populace.
Graham further articulated that the removal of Iran’s “murderous ayatollah” could lead to significant positive changes throughout the region. Conversely, he cautioned that allowing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to remain in power would represent a severe regression into darkness.
In response to the potential execution of protester Erfan Soltani, Senator Graham has publicly condemned the act. The narrative of Soltani has gained widespread attention as the turmoil in Iran escalates.
Soltani’s story has spread in recent days as the unrest in Iran continues.
The 26-year-old was arrested in Fardis and was sentenced to death after an expedited trial, according to ABC News, which cited Soltani’s second cousin, Somayeh.
“As someone who is an activist myself and who has fought this regime for many years, I felt it was my right — and my duty — to be Erfan’s voice outside the country despite all the pressure and sanctions that fall on families,” Somayeh, who is based in Germany, told ABC News.
Iranians began protesting in late December amid worsening economic conditions. Earlier this month, the regime instituted a nationwide internet blackout, blocking demonstrators from contacting each other or the outside world amid international fears that protesters would be met with violence and death.
In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran’s Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)
On Jan. 2, just days after the protests erupted, Trump said the U.S. was “locked and loaded” and ready to take action if the regime used violence against demonstrators. One day after the threat was made, the U.S. captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, adding weight to Trump’s words, though no known action has been taken yet.
Trump claimed Wednesday the administration was told “on good authority” that the killing in Iran had stopped.
“We’ve been told that the killing in Iran is stopping, and it’s stopped and stopping, and there’s no plan for executions or an execution,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “So, I’ve been told that on good authority. We’ll find out about it.”
Protesters burn images of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a rally held in solidarity with Iran’s uprising on Whitehall in central London Jan. 11, 2026. (Carlos Jasso/AFP via Getty Images)
On Friday, he seemed to double down on the idea that the regime had stopped using violence when he issued a Truth Social post saying Iran had canceled over 800 scheduled hangings.
“I greatly respect the fact that all scheduled hangings, which were to take place yesterday (over 800 of them), have been cancelled by the leadership of Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The fate of Soltani remains unclear, as does the prospect of U.S. intervention in Iran.
