India, Jan. 13 -- Iranian authorities are allegedly preparing to carry out what human rights groups warn could be the first execution linked to the current wave of anti-government protests, with 26-year-old protester Erfan Soltani at the centre of international concern.

Reports from rights groups and media outlets say Soltani was arrested during demonstrations in Karaj and has since been sentenced to death, though details remain difficult to independently verify due to a nationwide communications blackout.

The protests that led to Soltani's arrest erupted across Iran in late December and early January, driven by severe economic distress, including inflation, a collapsing currency and rising prices for basic goods.

What began as economi...