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
JANUARY 30, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Javid Dehghan-Khold executed in Zahedan Central Prison on January 30
Baluch prisoner sentenced to death on political and security charges
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 28, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - EU Must Address Iran’s State Terrorism
an online conference hosted by the International Committee in Search of Justice (ISJ)
- 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 PENALTYIRAN - Javad Montazerian executed at Dizel Abad Prison on January 25
He was charged with murder
- JANUARY 25, 2021IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Houshang Mohammadi and Ali Angazi executed in Kermanshah Prison on 25 January 2021
for murder
JANUARY 25, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 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 23, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 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 PENALTYIRAN - Shamseddin Soleimani has been executed at Qazvin Prison on January 15
for drugs
JANUARY 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Jama Zahrozehi executed at Zahedan Prison on January 14
for drugs
JANUARY 14, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Reza Shirzadeh executed in Yazd Prison on January 14
for murder
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 - 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 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 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.