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
JUNE 10, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Five death-row prisoners were hanged on June 10 at Rajai Shahr prison.
IRAN - Five death-row prisoners were hanged on June 10 at Rajai Shahr prison.
JUNE 9, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran to execute Sayyid Mahmoud Mousavi Majd, a man in connection with general Soleimani’s death.
IRAN - Iran to execute Sayyid Mahmoud Mousavi Majd, a man in connection with general Soleimani’s death.
JUNE 9, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Esmaili was wrong: Mousavi-Majd is not involved in general Soleimani's death
IRAN - Esmaili was wrong: Mousavi-Majd is not involved in general Soleimani's death
JUNE 9, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Two men hanged at Mashhad prison (Vakilabad) on June 9.
IRAN - Two men hanged at Mashhad prison (Vakilabad) on June 9.
JUNE 9, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: N.A. EXECUTED IN THE CENTRAL PRISON OF SHAHREKORD
According to the Iranian state TV news, a man, identified only as N.A., has been executed in the central prison of Shahrekord, the capital city of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province.
- JUNE 8, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abdol Rahman Shahouzi executed in Zahedan Prison on June 8, 2020.
IRAN - Abdol Rahman Shahouzi executed in Zahedan Prison on June 8, 2020.
- JUNE 8, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - N.A. has been executed in the central prison of Shahrekord
IRAN - N.A. has been executed in the central prison of Shahrekord
- JUNE 4, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Prisoners' swap with US, Michael White and Majid Taheri
IRAN - Prisoners' swap with US, Michael White and Majid Taheri
- JUNE 4, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI PARDONED 3,721 CONVICTS
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on the occasion of the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr pardoned or commuted prison terms of 3,721 convicts.
- JUNE 3, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A prisoner, identified only as M. N., was reportedly hanged on June 3
IRAN - A prisoner, identified only as M. N., was reportedly hanged on June 3
JUNE 2, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - At least 36 Kurdish Kolbars killed and wounded in May.
IRAN - At least 36 Kurdish Kolbars killed and wounded in May.
JUNE 2, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on May 31, 2020, the Coronavirus death toll is 48,200.
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on May 31, 2020, the Coronavirus death toll is 48,200.
- JUNE 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - A prisoner, identified as Sepideh Dam, was reportedly hanged on June 1
IRAN - A prisoner, identified as Sepideh Dam, was reportedly hanged on June 1
JUNE 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Canada Continues Pressure On Iran To Hand Over Black Boxes Of Downed Airliner.
IRAN - Canada Continues Pressure On Iran To Hand Over Black Boxes Of Downed Airliner.
JUNE 1, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unidentified prisoner hanged on June 1 at the central prison of Mashhad city.
IRAN - Unidentified prisoner hanged on June 1 at the central prison of Mashhad city.
MAY 31, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ROUHANI CALLS FOR STRICTER LAWS ON 'HONOR KILLINGS' AFTER KILLING OF 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called for harsher laws to tackle so-called "honor killings" after the particularly shocking slaying of a teenage girl, allegedly by her father, prompted a nationwide outcry.
MAY 30, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Interior Minister Minimizes Number of November Uprising Martyrs.
IRAN - Interior Minister Minimizes Number of November Uprising Martyrs.
MAY 28, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Central Prison of Karaj: A humanitarian catastrophe in the making.
IRAN - Central Prison of Karaj: A humanitarian catastrophe in the making.
MAY 28, 2020IranDEATH BY PUNISHMENTIRAN: HANDS OFF CAIN, UNACCEPTABLE ANTI-ZIONIST LAW AND INTRODUCTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY TO HIT ISRAEL
The Hands off Cain - Spes contra spem association considers the law on "hostile acts of the Zionist regime against peace and security" announced by President Hassan Rouhani unacceptable.
- MAY 27, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Rouhani Calls For Stricter Laws On 'Honor Killings' After Killing Of 13-Year-Old Romina Ashrafi
IRAN - Rouhani Calls For Stricter Laws On 'Honor Killings' After Killing Of 13-Year-Old Romina Ashrafi
- MAY 24, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - According to PMOI / MEK, on May 24, 2020, the Coronavirus death toll has exceeded 44,000.
IRAN - According to PMOI / MEK, on May 24, 2020, the Coronavirus death toll has exceeded 44,000.
- MAY 24, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ali Khamenei pardoned 3,721 convicts
IRAN - Ali Khamenei pardoned 3,721 convicts
MAY 22, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - The husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh Criticizes Iran’s Refusal to Furlough Her.
IRAN - The husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh Criticizes Iran’s Refusal to Furlough Her.
MAY 21, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hedayat Abdollahpour likely executed on June 21 in Oshnavieh prison.
IRAN - Hedayat Abdollahpour likely executed on June 21 in Oshnavieh prison.
MAY 21, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FRENCH-IRANIAN ACADEMIC FARIBA ADELKHAH SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN PRISON
Iran has sentenced French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah to six years in prison on national security charges, her lawyer said on 16 May 2020.
- MAY 19, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on May 19, 2020, the Coronavirus death toll has exceeded 42,800.
IRAN - According to PMOI/MEK, on May 19, 2020, the Coronavirus death toll has exceeded 42,800.
MAY 19, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - The “sultan of cars” Vahid Behzadi and his wife Najva Lashiedai were sentenced to death
IRAN - The “sultan of cars” Vahid Behzadi and his wife Najva Lashiedai were sentenced to death
MAY 19, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Arsalan Khodkam, a Kurdish political prisoner, is at risk of execution
IRAN - Arsalan Khodkam, a Kurdish political prisoner, is at risk of execution
MAY 17, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Concerns Over Fate of Hedayat Abdollahpour, a Kurdish Political Prisoner, 9 days After Disappearance.
IRAN - Concerns Over Fate of Hedayat Abdollahpour, a Kurdish Political Prisoner, 9 days After Disappearance.
- MAY 17, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: ISJ LETTER TO MR CHARLES MICHEL, MR DAVID MARIA SASSOLI AND MR DAVID MCALLISTER