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
- JANUARY 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Reza Shirzadeh executed in Yazd Prison on January 14
for murder
- JANUARY 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Jama Zahrozehi executed at Zahedan Prison on January 14
for drugs
JANUARY 13, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mehdi Feyzi and Moharam Feyzi executed at Ardabil Prison on January 13.
Arrested 5 years ago for murder
- JANUARY 11, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 4 inmates executed at Meshkin Shahr Prison on January 11
2 of the executions maybe already reported
- JANUARY 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Farzad Mohammad-Noureh and Mehdi Joushani executed in Qom Prison on January 9
They were accused of carrying 135 kilograms of methamphetamine
- JANUARY 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Reza Nouri executed in Ilam Central Prison on December 2, 2020
One month after the execution, the news has not been reported in any media
JANUARY 9, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Majid Rigi executed in Zahedan Central Prison on January 9
For drug crimes
JANUARY 8, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Farzad Nasser Jourshari executed at Rasht Central Prison on January 8.
He had been sentenced to qisas seven times for the murder of seven people.
JANUARY 6, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Taher Hamel-Khoshkhou executed in Tabriz Prison on January 6
sentenced for murder
JANUARY 5, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hands off Cain Year End Report: At least 284 executions in 2020
This is a drop of 14 executions compared to 2019, and 44 compared to 2018, a drop of 4.7% and 13.4% respectively.
- JANUARY 3, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 men executed at Zahedan Central Prison on January 3.
Their names were Elias Ghalandarzehi, Hassan Dehvari (Hasan Dahvari), and Omid Mahmoudzehi.
JANUARY 3, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hadi Hosseini Mirak was executed on January 3 in Ardebil Central Prison.
The crime is not known
JANUARY 1, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - On January 1, 2021, the Coronavirus death toll passed 195,500
That is according to PMOI/MEK
- DECEMBER 31, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hamid Rastbala, Kabir Sa’adat Jahani and Mohammad Ali Arayesh were executed on December 31
Three Sunni political prisoners executed in Vakilabad Prison of Mashhad.
DECEMBER 31, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - The United Nations condemns the execution of Mohammad Hassan Rezaiee.
IRAN - The United Nations condemns the execution of Mohammad Hassan Rezaiee.
- DECEMBER 31, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Hassan Rezaiee, a juvenile, has been executed
Mohammad Hassan Rezaiee executed at Rasht Central Prison on December 31.
- DECEMBER 31, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Fereydoun Tavakoli was executed in Rasht Central Prison on 31 December 2020.
IRAN - Fereydoun Tavakoli was executed in Rasht Central Prison on 31 December 2020.
DECEMBER 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mustafa Seifi executed on December 30 in Sanandaj Central Prison.
IRAN - Mustafa Seifi executed on December 30 in Sanandaj Central Prison.
DECEMBER 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A man was executed at Rajaee Shahr Prison on on December 30.
He was identified only as "Rostam"
DECEMBER 27, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - A woman, Zeinab Khodamoradi, hanged in Sanandaj prison on December 27.
IRAN - A woman, Zeinab Khodamoradi, hanged in Sanandaj prison on December 27.
- DECEMBER 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mehraban Barahouei and Khodadad Nohatani executed on December 26 at Zahedan Central Prison.
IRAN - Mehraban Barahouei and Khodadad Nohatani executed on December 26 at Zahedan Central Prison.
DECEMBER 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Second death sentence for Shaker Behrouz
IRAN - Second death sentence for Shaker Behrouz
DECEMBER 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abdulhamid Mir-Balouchzehi hanged on December 26 in the Prison of Zahedan.
IRAN - Abdulhamid Mir-Balouchzehi hanged on December 26 in the Prison of Zahedan.
- DECEMBER 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Seyed Paki executed in Qom Central Prison on December 26.
IRAN - Seyed Paki executed in Qom Central Prison on December 26.
DECEMBER 24, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 4 prisoners were executed at Ahvaz Sepidar Prison on December 24, 2020.
One of the executed was Jafar Zabi. The name of the other three has not been obtained.
DECEMBER 20, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abdol-Basset Khesht was executed in Zahedan on December 20.
IRAN - Abdol-Basset Khesht was executed in Zahedan on December 20.
DECEMBER 19, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Behnam Rigi and Shoaib Rigi have been executed at Zahedan Central Prison on December 19.
IRAN - Behnam Rigi and Shoaib Rigi have been executed at Zahedan Central Prison on December 19.
- DECEMBER 18, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A woman executed in the Sepidar Prison of Ahvaz. This is the 110th woman executed during the tenure of Rouhani
IRAN - A woman executed in the Sepidar Prison of Ahvaz. This is the 110th woman executed during the tenure of Rouhani
DECEMBER 18, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - The European Union condemns Iran ‘in the strongest terms’ on the Zam, Sotoudeh and Djalali cases.
IRAN - The European Union condemns Iran ‘in the strongest terms’ on the Zam, Sotoudeh and Djalali cases.
- DECEMBER 18, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Rasoul Ferdows executed at Boroujerd Central Prison on December 18.
IRAN - Rasoul Ferdows executed at Boroujerd Central Prison on December 18.