Iran
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 869
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 2,156
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · The 1999 figures for capital sentences and executions...
- News items in the archive
- 8,611
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Iran is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 869 executions in the country, against 2,156 the year before. The archive holds 8,611 news items on Iran, from 1999 to today.
Iran is one of the countries where the association records the highest number of executions each year. The usual method is hanging, and capital punishment applies to a wide list of offences: murder, drug offences, offences against state security, sexual offences, and charges such as moharebeh, enmity against God, which allow very broad application.
Many executions are never announced. They emerge from local sources, from human rights organisations and from families. For Iran, more than anywhere else, the archive's count is a documented minimum.
Latest news
JUNE 1, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Rasoul Sheikh Arpanahi and Neemat Arzani executed in Kashan on June 1
MAY 31, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men executed in Gohardasht on May 31
Hossein Rusta, Nader Nouri, Hassan Nourollahi 147 executions in the month of May
MAY 30, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Amir Narouyi executed on May 30
At the time of writing the location is unknown
MAY 30, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men executed in Karaj on May 30
- MAY 30, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - EzatAli Sabzi and Mohammad Kazemi executed in Karaj on May 30
MAY 29, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Raisi Played Direct Role In Executing Prisoners In 80s
MAY 28, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Woman executed in Mashhad on May 28
Monireh Nourikia is the 212nd woman executed in Iran since 2007
MAY 28, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abdul Rahman Mozafari executed in Sanandaj on May 28
After 16 years on death row
MAY 28, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Jalil Minaei executed in Meshkin Shahr on May 28
MAY 27, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hossein Soltanian executed in Zahedan on May 27
320 executions this year,more than 2 a day
MAY 27, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abdullah Totazehi executed in Garmsar on May 27
MAY 27, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Juvenile Offender Hossein Shahbazi at Risk of Execution
Despite Third Postponement
MAY 27, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Noorullah Taymuri executed in Zahedan on May 27
MAY 26, 2023BelgiumDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Belgian Government Releases Iranian Diplomat-Terrorist Assadollah Assadi
Controversial Prisoner Swap
MAY 26, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - The official position: 'Assadi's release, a personal victory for Raisi's diplomatic initiatives'
MAY 25, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mehdi Salari and Mohammad Daraei executed in Jiroft on May 25
MAY 25, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Amir Mahdi executed in public on May 25
MAY 25, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Piri executed in Urmia on May 25
314 executions since the beginning of the year
MAY 25, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 4 men executed in Kerman on May 25
Ali Shahriari, Ghaderbakhsh Dehani, Abdolrasould Jamishidi, Ali Salari
MAY 25, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 6 men executed in Kerman on May 25
Nader Kalbali, Abdorasoul Jamshidi + 4 Unk
MAY 25, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Saeed Mohammadi Far executed in Sanandaj on May 25
MAY 25, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 2 men, partially identified, executed in Rasht on May 25
Mohammad and Hamidreza
MAY 24, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - The death sentence of protester Mohammad Ghobadloo has been upheld
MAY 24, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Nader Alizahi executed in Kerman on May 24
MAY 24, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Parviz Javadi executed in Zanjan on May 24
MAY 24, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Mohammad Zera’at and Esmaiel Nasiri executed in Shiraz on May 24
Hrana learned on June 2
MAY 23, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Court Overturns Death Sentence of Protestor Javad Rouhi
MAY 23, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Saeed Mohammadi executed in Kermanshah on May 23
MAY 23, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unidentified man executed in Bandar Abbas on May 23
MAY 23, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - … Bazi executed in Gorgan on May 23
(first name unknown)