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
- 9,164
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 9,164 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
JULY 9, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Belgium. What Lessons Can Belgium Learn That France Never Did?
More on the Assadi case
JULY 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Poland. Polish Scientist Maciej Walczak Arrested in Iran
- JULY 8, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Belgium. More against the release of Assadi
- JULY 7, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Behzad Narooie and Mohammad Shahi executed on July 7
JULY 7, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Behzad Narouyi executed in Zahedan on July 7
JULY 7, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Zarif Kakar executed in Zabol Prison on July 7
JULY 7, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Turkey. Abdul Wahab Kocak Sentenced To Life In Prison
Accused Of Killing Iranian Dissident In Turkey
JULY 7, 2022BelgiumDEATH PENALTYRAN - Belgium. Global firestorm brewing over Belgium’s disgraceful deal with Iran’s regime
JULY 6, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hadi Moradi executed in Gachsaran Prison on July 6
JULY 6, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Fardin Zekri executed in Shiraz on July 6
- JULY 6, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mehdi Karimi executed in Sari Prison on July 6
JULY 6, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unnamed man executed in Tabriz on July 6
- JULY 6, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Belgium. Belgium Provisionally Clears Iran Prisoner-Swap Treaty
JULY 5, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men executed on July 5
- JULY 3, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - More about the June 29 executions in Rajai Shahr
1, maybe 2 gays
- JULY 2, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Rahmat Valinejad executed in Zabol on July 2
- JULY 2, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Belgium. Iran Reportedly Holds Two Belgians As Brussels Plans Prisoner Swap
- JULY 2, 2022BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Belgium. A law in Belgium could lead to the release of Assadi, the Iranian diplomat in prison for planning a terror attack
- JUNE 29, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 10 inmates executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on June 29
Iman Safari-rad, Mehdi Khlagaldi and 8 yet not identified
JUNE 27, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Nasrollah Iliad and an identified man executed in Karaj on June 27
JUNE 26, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Yousef Sanjari executed in Jiroft on June 26
- JUNE 23, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Jilan Nourzehi executed in Kerman on June 23
JUNE 21, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran’s Human Rights in the UN Secretary-General’s Report
JUNE 21, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran slams UN for 'unjust, biased' human rights report
It is the iranian usual reaction to international criticism
JUNE 20, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abdulrashid Sahneh executed in Gorgan on June 20
JUNE 20, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Firuz Musalou secretly executed in Urmia Prison on June 20
JUNE 20, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abdol Latif Moradi executed in Mashhad on June 20
JUNE 19, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Rasoul Khosravi-Baboli and Gholam Eslami executed in Shiraz on June 19
- JUNE 16, 2022IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN Ali Ranjbar executed in Bandarabbas on June 15
JUNE 16, 2022IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohsen Norouzi executed in Rasht on June 16