Ilya Ben-Rashid, 22, arrested during the January 2026 protests, has been sentenced to death on charges of "moharebeh" (waging war against God). Branch 5 of the Isfahan Revolutionary Court issued the death sentence on the charge of "waging war against God" through alleged "participation in the destruction of public property." The court also sentenced Ben-Rashid to three years, six months, and one day in prison for "assembly and collusion against national security," and nine months and one day for "propaganda against the regime." He was additionally handed a two-year travel ban. In a separate case, Branch 102 of the Shahin Shahr Criminal Court II sentenced him in May to six months in prison and 20 lashes. Ben-Rashid, a resident of Shahin Shahr in Isfahan Province, was arrested on January 22, 2026, during nationwide protests. He remains imprisoned at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan.

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States was "not negotiating" with Iran and that a development was expected "fairly soon." He said that most people believed it would come after the election.

Mediators in the U.S.-Iran talks are moving urgently to prevent escalation and a return to war, the Wall Street Journal reports. Proposals on the table include releasing part of Iran's frozen funds abroad, with interest, in exchange for nuclear concessions such as allowing IAEA inspectors back into the country.

President Trump on Iran: "It's a very small price to pay. The number one state sponsor of terror. The most evil nation on Earth. If they had a nuclear weapon, they'd use it within one day or one hour. I would say one hour."