Recent executions in Iran follow civil unrest convictions

Iranian judicial authorities have executed Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi for the alleged murder of police officers during anti-government protests in Isfahan. The authorities claim the pair tied up officers, set them on fire, and filmed the act for foreign media. Additionally, Aref Khoshkar was executed for the murder of Salman Amir-Ahmadi, a member of the Basij paramilitary force, during the 2022-23 protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. The Iranian government maintains these actions were part of foreign-orchestrated terrorist acts, while international NGOs argue these executions are part of a broader, lethal crackdown on dissent. Discrepancies exist between official government figures regarding death tolls and the reports released by foreign NGOs. According to the United Nations, at least 40 men have been executed in Iran since the beginning of 2026, 18 of whom were involved in demonstrations. Last year, the total number of executions reached a record 1,639, according to independent monitors. The government's narrative describes these trials as adhering to legal procedures and Supreme Court rulings, despite global criticism.