Iran is trying to execute a 19-year-old wrestler named Saleh Mohammadi for taking part in peaceful protests against the government earlier this month. The case has caused international concern, and on Wednesday the U.S. State Department publicly asked Iran to stop the execution and overturn the death sentence.Wrestling is one of Iran’s most popular sports and is deeply connected to the country’s culture. The situation reminds many people of Navid Afkari, a well-known Iranian wrestling champion who was executed in 2020 after protesting government corruption. At the time, even former U.S. President Donald Trump tried to stop his execution, but Iran carried it out anyway.
Saleh Mohammadi 19 yr was arrested on Jan 15 & is at risk of execution fabricated charges of cooperating with Mossad to kill Basij. He is an athlete and holds Asian championship in wrestling. Please be his voice!#DigitalBlackoutIran #IranMassacre #IranRevolution2026 pic.twitter.com/C6Q9NknmZB
— Solmaz (@solmazbarghgir) January 28, 2026
In a statement posted in Persian on X, the U.S. State Department said it is “deeply concerned” about Mohammadi’s case. The post accused the Iranian government of killing young people and destroying the country’s future. It called on Iranian authorities to stop the execution of Mohammadi and others who were sentenced to death simply for using their basic rights, such as peaceful protest.Sardar Pashaei, an Iranian-American former world-champion wrestler and coach, spoke to Fox News Digital about the situation. He said that in less than ten days, Iranian security forces killed more than 30 athletes across the country. According to him, the victims included teenagers, national champions, coaches, and referees. The youngest person killed was only 15 years old. All were reportedly shot by government forces.
#Breaking: Another prominent athlete in #Iran has been sentenced to death.#Iranian wrestler Saleh Mohammadi, currently held in solitary confinement, is facing imminent execution by #Iran’s Islamic regime on the charge of “waging war against God”—solely for participating in… pic.twitter.com/56Lfmb2WEQ
— Babak Taghvaee – The Crisis Watch (@BabakTaghvaee1) January 27, 2026
Pashaei said his organization, Hiwa, has only counted confirmed cases, and that many more athletes are missing, imprisoned, or at risk of torture and execution. Families across Iran, he said, are still searching for loved ones with no answers. He praised the U.S. government for speaking out and supporting Mohammadi.Pashaei also said that a government that arrests, tortures, and kills its own athletes should not be allowed in international sports. He said Hiwa is preparing a formal request asking the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and United World Wrestling (UWW) to suspend Iran from international competitions.
Another Iranian wrestler, Alireza Nejati, an Olympic athlete and medal winner, was arrested after posting a short and positive message on Instagram. He was later imprisoned and reportedly tortured.The IOC responded by saying it is concerned about Iranian athletes but has limited power to directly influence governments. The organization said it continues to work quietly through sports diplomacy and remains in contact with Iran’s Olympic community.
