Iran has executed three men accused of killing police officers during nationwide anti-government protests in January, according to state media. These represent the first hangings officially carried out in direct relation to the demonstrations that have gripped the country.
The executions took place on Thursday morning in the northern province of Qom after the Supreme Court upheld the death sentences. Among those executed was Saleh Mohammadi, a teenager and member of Iran’s national wrestling team. The other two men were identified as Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi.
According to the Tasnim news agency, which is associated with the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the trio was found guilty of killing two police officers in separate attacks. They were also convicted of “moharebeh,” or waging war against God, a charge frequently used by the Iranian judiciary to issue death sentences against protesters and political opponents.
Allegations of torture and unfair trials
Human rights organisations have raised serious concerns regarding the legal process, asserting that the three men confessed under torture and were denied fair trials. The crackdown on the protests, which began in December and escalated through January, has been described by witnesses as uniquely lethal.
The executions occurred just one day after Iran hanged Kouroush Keyvani, a dual Iranian-Swedish national convicted of spying for Israel. Keyvani was reportedly arrested during a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel last June. The Swedish foreign minister issued a statement condemning the move, noting that the legal process leading to the execution was not secure.
The January protests were initially sparked by the collapse of the Iranian currency and the soaring cost of living, but quickly evolved into widespread demands for political change. While internet shutdowns made information gathering difficult, monitors such as the Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana) estimate that at least 7,000 people were killed in the crackdown, including hundreds of children.
Rising regional and international tensions
The international community had previously warned Tehran against executing protesters. In January, US President Donald Trump stated that strong action would be taken if such hangings proceeded, despite subsequent claims from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that no such plans existed.
The judicial landscape remains volatile, with some cases seeing unexpected turns. Erfan Soltani, a protester whose family was initially told he faced imminent execution, was reportedly released on bail after the judiciary denied he had been sentenced to death, citing only security-related charges.
Since the January crackdown, the geopolitical situation has deteriorated significantly. The US and Israel have launched extensive strikes on Iran, resulting in the death of the country’s supreme leader. Iran has retaliated with attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf, leaving the region in a state of high-intensity conflict as domestic dissent continues to be met with capital punishment.
