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
SEPTEMBER 1, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammad Sadeghzadeh executed in Ardabil Prison on September 1
For murder
AUGUST 31, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hadi Attazadeh tortured and murdered in Ahar prison
On August 31, 2021
AUGUST 28, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mansour Kahrazehi Executed in Zahedan Prison on August 28
For murder
AUGUST 24, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Amir Ali Hosseini executed at Qom Prison on August 24
For murder
- AUGUST 15, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - IHR Strongly Condemns Arrest of 7 Lawyers and Civil Activists
- AUGUST 11, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified man executed in Esfarayen
Date unknown
- AUGUST 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ebrahim Ghanbarzehi and Nabi Notizehi executed in Kerman Prison on August 9
On drug charges
- AUGUST 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Afshar Minayi executed in Kermanshah Prison on August 9
For murder
- AUGUST 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Zabiollah Hormozi executed in Mashhad Prison on August 9
At least 81 people executed on drug charges in 2021
AUGUST 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Esmail Soltan-Abadi executed in Kermanshah Prison on August 9
IHR obtained information on October 8
- AUGUST 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Hassani-Kiazehi and Seyed Esmail Kurdtamini hanged in Isfahan Prison on August 8
On drug related charges
- AUGUST 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Salim Mohammadi executed in Isfahan prison on August 8
No information about his charges
- AUGUST 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Majid Golebacheh executed in Birjand Prison on August 8
On drug charges
AUGUST 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammad Hassani-Kiazehi executed in Isfahan Prison on August 8
On drug-related charges
- AUGUST 4, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Hassan Eghdami and Ebrahim Afrashteh executed in Qom Prison on August 4
For drugs
AUGUST 4, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Farzad Afsordeh executed at Jiroft Prison on August 4
For murder
AUGUST 4, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mojtaba Tondroo (Tondro) executed at Karaj Central Prison on August 4
For murder
- AUGUST 2, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Arsalan Karimi executed in Isfahan Prison on August 2
For drugs
- AUGUST 2, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Eskandar Zare, Sepehr Abbasnejad and Hamzeh Rezaei executed in Urmia on August 2
For drug-related charges
- AUGUST 2, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Sajad (Sajjad) Sanjari, a minor, executed in Dizelabad prison on August 2
He was 15 years old at the time of the crime
- AUGUST 1, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hassan ... and Ali ... executed in Mashhad Prison on August 1
For murder
- JULY 31, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Four unidentified men executed in Rajai Shahr Prison on July 31
For murder
- JULY 30, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Massoud Esfandiari executed on June 30 in Kermanshah Prison
For murder
JULY 28, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Esmail Fatehi, Mansour Mohammadi and Mozafar ... executed in Qazvin Prison on July 28
For drug-related charges
- JULY 28, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Vahid Raisi executed at Jiroft Prison on July 28
For murder
- JULY 27, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohandes ... executed on July 27 at Karaj Prison
For murder
- JULY 25, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Cousins Amir and Sohrab Heydari executed in Yazd Prison on July 25
For drug-related crimes
- JULY 25, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified man executed on July 25 at Isfahan Prison
Crime not known
- JULY 25, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ebrahim Shehbakhsh executed in Isfahan Prison on July 25
For drug-related crimes
- JULY 25, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Bakhtiar Salemi executed in Shirvan Prison on July 25
For murder