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
- 8,610
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 8,610 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
NOVEMBER 14, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Execution of two prisoners in Torbat Jam prison on November 14
Mohammad Nabi Soleimani (Rigi) and Abdullah Sufi (Golmir Rigi)
NOVEMBER 14, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Dawood Bahrami executed in Hamadan on November 14
NOVEMBER 13, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sultan Seifi executed in Qom on November 13
NOVEMBER 13, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men executed in Zahedan on November 13
Vali Roudini, Mohsen Anshini and Emam Bakhsh Narouyi
- NOVEMBER 12, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - More than 54 minors under the age of 18 killed in the nationwide uprising
UNICEF statement expressed deep concern
NOVEMBER 12, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Three Men Executed in Shiraz on November 12
Vahid Pakzad, Keyvan Tajadod and an unidentified man
- NOVEMBER 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Five prisoners executed in Arak prison
Saeed Moghadam, Sajjad Yousefi, Nasser, Reza, and Nasser Iranshahi
- NOVEMBER 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Shoaib Askani and Eshagh Askani executed in Zahedan on November 8
- NOVEMBER 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iranian Protester Handed Death Sentence
Mahan Sedarat
- NOVEMBER 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Rashed Baloch and Ishaq Ishaq executed in Zahedan on November 8
NOVEMBER 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran Votes to Execute Protesters
It is unclear whether this is a new law or just a "recommendation"
- NOVEMBER 6, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Nematollah Barahouyi and Amanollah Alizehi executed in Zahedan on November 6
- NOVEMBER 6, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 5 inmates executed in Arak on November 6
unidentified
- NOVEMBER 5, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran Protests: At least 304 Including 41 Minors Killed
- NOVEMBER 3, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Janali Gholamhosseini executed in Hamadan on November 3
- NOVEMBER 2, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified man executed in Karaj on November 2
- NOVEMBER 2, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 2 men executed in Qaen Prison on November 2
Abdolsaboor Narouyi and an unidentified man
NOVEMBER 2, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 4 men executed in Birjand prison on November 2
Nur Ahmad Totazahi, Abdullah Totazahi (Rigi). Mohammad Khushal and ... Khosravi
NOVEMBER 2, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mehdi Tadzari executed in Ardabil on November 2
- NOVEMBER 1, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 men executed in Shiraz on November 1
Amir Ghoncheh (Ghancheh), Jafar Tourjan (Turjan) and an unidentified man
NOVEMBER 1, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Jalal Mulaii executed in Zanjan on November 1
OCTOBER 27, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unidentified woman executed in Boroujerd on October 27
202nd execution of women in Iran since 2007
- OCTOBER 27, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified woman executed in Borujerd on October 27
202nd execution of women in Iran since 2007
OCTOBER 25, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Alireza Janipour executed in Hamadan on October 25
OCTOBER 25, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran Protests: At least 234 Including 29 Children Killed
Families and Doctors Pressured to Confirm False Scenarios
OCTOBER 25, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hossein Valizadeh executed in Hamadan on October 25
OCTOBER 24, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 500 executed in Iran since the beginning of the year
No other country in the world carries out as many executions
- OCTOBER 24, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Esfandiari executed in Barazjan on October 24
OCTOBER 23, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sajjad Zainivandnejad executed in Borujerd on October 23
OCTOBER 22, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Three Baloch prisoners executed on 22 October
Mohammad Zarakzahi in Zabol, and Juma Gumshadzahi and Habil Shahnawazi in Zahedan