Iran executed three men after they were convicted of participating in violent anti-government protests in late 2025 and early 2026, state media reported on May 4. The executions highlight intensified crackdowns by Iranian authorities following widespread unrest sparked by rising living costs and political grievances.
Convictions and Executions
The Iranian judiciary’s Mizan Online website identified two of the men as Mehdi Rassouli and Mohammad Reza Miri, described as agents of the Israeli intelligence service Mossad. They were accused of inciting violence, using weapons including Molotov cocktails, and directly participating in the murder of a security officer during protests in the northeastern city of Mashhad. Both were executed by hanging.
The third man executed, Ebrahim Dolatabadi, was labeled one of the main instigators of the Mashhad riots, which resulted in multiple deaths among security forces. The Supreme Court approved the sentences before the executions were carried out, according to Iranian authorities.
Protests and Official Response
The protests began peacefully in December 2025, triggered by economic hardship, but Iranian officials said they escalated into violent riots exacerbated by foreign interference. Tehran blamed the unrest on “terrorist acts” orchestrated by the United States and Israel. More than 3,000 deaths have been acknowledged by the Iranian government in connection to the protests.
Last month, Bita Hemmati was reportedly the first woman sentenced to death over the same unrest, according to human rights organizations. Executions have been part of a broader campaign of repression that includes fast-tracked trials and allegations of forced confessions extracted under torture, noted the Center for Human Rights in Iran.
Execution Patterns and Human Rights Concerns
Iran continues to be the world’s second-largest executioner after China. According to Iran Human Rights Monitor, at least 656 executions occurred in the first quarter of 2026, though numbers may be underreported due to censorship and internet shutdowns. In 2025, at least 1,639 people, including 48 women, were executed based on joint reports from rights groups.
Previously, Iran executed three men in March 2026 accused of killing police during earlier protests, including Saleh Mohammadi, a young national wrestling team member.
Why it matters
The executions underscore Iran’s harsh judicial response to dissent and raise ongoing concerns about the fairness of trials and use of the death penalty in political cases. They come amid continued internal unrest and escalating tensions with Western countries accused by Tehran of interference. Monitoring these events is critical for understanding human rights conditions and political stability in Iran.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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