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
- FEBRUARY 15, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Iran Denies Citizen Detained In Turkey Is A Consulate Employee
Involved in the murder of a dissident
FEBRUARY 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Saeed Ali-Mohammadi executed at Nour Prison on February 14
He was charged with murder
FEBRUARY 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Bahavar Tanazi executed at Meshgin Shahr Prison on February 13
Sentenced for murder
FEBRUARY 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Jamaluddin Brahui and Mohammad Barahui executed at Birjand prison on February 13
The two Baluchi prisoners were executed on drug related charges
FEBRUARY 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mansour Ghazagh executed on February 13 at Birjand Prison
For drug crimes
- FEBRUARY 12, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Another Iranian Diplomat Arrested for Terror
In Turkey, for murder of an Iranian dissident
FEBRUARY 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mehrdad Taleshi, 21, Killed in Police Custody
arrested for seven grams of marijuana
FEBRUARY 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Saeed Naderi and an unknows female executed in Ardabil Prison on February 8
The woman, 23, may have been a juvenile offender
FEBRUARY 3, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Belgian Court sentenced iranian diplomat Assadollah Assadi to 20 years
for planning to bomb a meeting of the Iranian opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
- FEBRUARY 2, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN Jabbar Nemati executed in Adelabad Prison on February 2
for murder
FEBRUARY 1, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mehran Narouie executed in Isfahan prison on February 1
No information about his charges
- JANUARY 30, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Javid Dehghan-Khold executed in Zahedan Central Prison on January 30
Baluch prisoner sentenced to death on political and security charges
- JANUARY 28, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - EU Must Address Iran’s State Terrorism
an online conference hosted by the International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ)
JANUARY 28, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Motayyeri executed in Sheiban Prison, Ahvaz, on January 28.
He was charged with being an Isis terrorist
JANUARY 28, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Anvar Narouei executed in Isfahan’s Dastgerd Prison on January 28
He was a Baluch with drug-related charges
- JANUARY 27, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Woman executed in Sanandaj Prison on January 27
The identity of the woman has not been clarified
- JANUARY 27, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abbas Ali Hosseini executed at Zanjan Prison on January 27
He was sentenced for murder
JANUARY 26, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - IHR Warns of Crackdown on Kurdish and Baluch Citizens
Iran Human Rights calls upon the international community and human rights organisations for a stronger response
- JANUARY 25, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mehdi Ali Hosseini executed in Dezful Prison on January 25
Hosseini was a wrestler. His case had received widespread support from the sports community
- JANUARY 25, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Houshang Mohammadi and Ali Angazi executed in Kermanshah Prison on 25 January 2021
for murder
JANUARY 25, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Javad Montazerian executed at Dizel Abad Prison on January 25
He was charged with murder
- JANUARY 23, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Shakori executed at Qom Central Prison on January 23
charged with rape
JANUARY 20, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abdolraouf Kobdani executed at Zahedan Central Prison on January 20
on drug (opium) charges
JANUARY 20, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hafez Abdolsattar executed in Zahedan Prison on January 20.
for murder
- JANUARY 20, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Younes Jamshid-Zehi and Shamsoldin Baji-Zehi executed on January 20 at Zahedan Central Prison.
on murder charges
- JANUARY 20, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Younes Khanshini hanged on January 20
for murder
JANUARY 19, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Anwar Ali-Zehi executed at Zahedan Prison on January 19
on drug-related charges
JANUARY 18, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Fateh Ghaderi executed in Sanandaj Prison on January 18.
for murder
- JANUARY 16, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A man, identified only as Amir, hanged on January 16
for murder
- JANUARY 15, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Shamseddin Soleimani has been executed at Qazvin Prison on January 15
for drugs