The propagation characteristics of nonlinear ion–acoustic (IA) solitary waves (SWs) are studied in thermal electron–positron–ion plasma considering the effect of relativistic positron beam. Starting from a set of fluid equations and using the reductive perturbation technique, we derive a Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation which goves the evolution of weakly nonlinear IA SWs in relativistic beam driven plasmas. The properties of the IA soliton are studied, and it is shown that the presence of relativistic positron beam significantly modifies the characteristics of IA solitons.