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
- 9,149
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 9,149 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
- MAY 20, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
according to the Kurdish news agency Kurdpa, a Kurdish prisoner, identified by the
according to the Kurdish news agency Kurdpa, a Kurdish prisoner, identified by the
- MAY 20, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
two prisoners identified as S. R. and V. A. were hanged in Sanandaj prison, the
two prisoners identified as S. R. and V. A. were hanged in Sanandaj prison, the
MAY 17, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: 26 PRISONERS HANGED IN TWO DAYS
According to the official and unofficial reports 26 prisoners were executed in three different Iranian prisons in two days.
MAY 17, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO HANGED FOR RAPE
Two prisoners were publicly hanged in Isfahan (central Iran) early in the morning.
MAY 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
One prisoner was hanged in Zanjan (west of Tehran) early in the morning.
MAY 15, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: MAN HANGED FOR KILLING NUCLEAR SCIENTIST
Iran's state TV says authorities have hanged a man who was sentenced to death for the 2010 killing of a nuclear physicist.
MAY 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR MEN DUE TO BE HANGED FOR SODOMY
Iran court has sentenced four men to death by hanging for sodomy.
MAY 8, 2012United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTYUAE: TWO GET DEATH FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In UAE, one Emirati and an Iranian were sentenced to capital punishment by the Dibba
- MAY 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED IN PRISON
According to the state run Iranian news agency Fars, a man convicted of sexually
MAY 7, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: NINE 'GLASS' DRUG TRAFFICKERS HANGED
Iran hanged nine men in a prison in Tehran after they were convicted of trafficking "glass", or methamphetamine, a statement from the Tehran prosecution office said.
- MAY 6, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD
Tehran Prosecutor General Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi announced that the death sentence
- MAY 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
the Iranian judiciary has handed death sentences to two Kurdish
the Iranian judiciary has handed death sentences to two Kurdish
APRIL 30, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR GHOLAMREZA KHOSRAVI
Iran’s Supreme Court has approved a death sentence for Gholamreza Khosravi Savadjani, a
APRIL 30, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Four prisoners were hanged in the prison of Shahrud, Iran, early in the morning.
- APRIL 26, 2012AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to a prisoner exchange...
Afghanistan and Iran have agreed to a prisoner exchange...
- APRIL 25, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the official website of the Iranian judiciary in Semnan Province five prisoners,
According to the official website of the Iranian judiciary in Semnan Province five prisoners,
- APRIL 25, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Eight prisoners, among them one Afghan citizen, were hanged in Karaj (west of Tehran
Eight prisoners, among them one Afghan citizen, were hanged in Karaj (west of Tehran
- APRIL 25, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 13 PRISONERS EXECUTED
Five prisoners were executed in the prison of Shahrud (northern Iran), reported the offcial Iranian sources.
APRIL 20, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED
Four prisoners have been executed in three different cities of Iran, reported the state run Iranian media.
- APRIL 19, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
The official Iranian news agency IRNA reported that one man was hanged publicly
The official Iranian news agency IRNA reported that one man was hanged publicly
- APRIL 19, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
According to the Iranian state broadcasting two prisoners were hanged in the central prison
According to the Iranian state broadcasting two prisoners were hanged in the central prison
- APRIL 18, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
The official site of the judiciary in Semnan (northern Iran) reported that one prisoner
The official site of the judiciary in Semnan (northern Iran) reported that one prisoner
- APRIL 18, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Press TV reported that Saudi officials had executed eight Iranian,,,
Press TV reported that Saudi officials had executed eight Iranian...
APRIL 18, 2012Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTYIRAN THANKS SAUDIS FOR SPARING CITIZENS ON DEATH ROW
Iran welcomed Saudi Arabia suspending death sentences against several of its nationals convicted
APRIL 17, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO PRISONERS EXECUTED
Two prisoners were executed in the prison of Zanjan (western Iran), according to the state run Iranian news agency Fars.
- APRIL 16, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN HANGS EIGHT CONVICTED DRUG TRAFFICKERS
Iran hanged eight convicted drug traffickers in a prison in the southern city of Shiraz, the Fars news agency reported.
- APRIL 10, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Five prisoners were executed in Iran, reported the state run Iranian media.
Five prisoners were executed in Iran, reported the state run Iranian media.
- APRIL 10, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: 10 PRISONERS HANGED IN TWO DAYS
Ten prisoners were executed in Iran yesterday and today, reported the state run Iranian media.
- APRIL 9, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Five prisoners were hanged in Kerman province (southeastern Iran).
Five prisoners were hanged in Kerman province (southeastern Iran).
- APRIL 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN ARAN-BIGDEL
One prisoner was hanged in the town of Aran-Bigdel, reported the Iranian state broadcasting. The