US condemns death sentence for Iranian soldier who refused to fire on protesters

The US State Department said an Iranian soldier had been sentenced to death for refusing to fire on protesters, calling the case morally unjust and inhumane.

In a post on its Persian-language X account, the department said: “According to reports, Javid Khales, a young Iranian soldier, has been sentenced to death for refusing to shoot innocent protesters.”

“His refusal was not only justified, it was the only moral choice,” the post said. “The duty of soldiers is to protect the citizens of their country, and Javid did exactly that.”

The account said it was “reprehensible and inhumane” for Iran’s authorities to punish those who refuse to turn their weapons on civilians.

“No government should demand that its security forces use violence against their fellow citizens,” it said, “nor impose the harshest punishment on those who choose conscience over oppression.”

The State Department account added: “Javid stood by his conscience and fulfilled the true duty of a soldier. The Islamic Republic’s response, like many of its others, is a stain on its legitimacy.”