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
- 9,221
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 9,221 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
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 PENALTYIRAN 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 PENALTYIRAN: PRISONER HANGED IN ARAN-BIGDEL
One prisoner was hanged in the town of Aran-Bigdel, reported the Iranian state broadcasting. The
MARCH 19, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN WOMAN GETS DEATH FOR TRAFFICKING IN 1.76KG OF SYABU
An Iranian woman was sent to the gallows by the High Court in Malaysia for
- MARCH 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin (Ghazvin), west of Tehran.
Three prisoners were hanged in the prison of Qazvin (Ghazvin), west of Tehran.
- MARCH 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
Two prisoners were hanged in public in the city of Mashhad (northeastern Iran).
Two prisoners were hanged in public in the city of Mashhad (northeastern Iran).
- MARCH 13, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: FIVE PRISONERS HANGED FOR RAPE, DRUG TRAFFICKING
Five prisoners were hanged in Iran, in two different cities.
MARCH 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYUN: IRAN EXECUTED 670 PEOPLE IN 2011
March 12, 2012: Iran executed some 670 people last year, most of them for drug crimes that do not merit capital punishment under international law and more than 20 for offences against Islam, a United Nations investigator said.
- MARCH 10, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
three prisoners were executed in the Central Prison of Shahr-e-Kord, in Iran. According to the Assistant
three prisoners were executed in the Central Prison of Shahr-e-Kord, in Iran. According to the Assistant
- MARCH 10, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
eight prisoners were hanged in Zahedan prison, Human Rights and Democracy Activists
eight prisoners were hanged in Zahedan prison, Human Rights and Democracy Activists
- MARCH 6, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
in Iran, two convicted of murder were hanged in public in two
in Iran, two convicted of murder were hanged in public in two
MARCH 6, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: IRANIAN TO HANG FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
In Malaysia An Iranian was sentenced to death by the Shah Alam High Court to
MARCH 5, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: SUPREME COURT ORDERS RETRIAL OF EX-MARINE SENTENCED TO DEATH
An Iranian semiofficial news agency reports that the country's Supreme Court has ordered the retrial of an ex-Marine who was sentenced to death for working for the CIA.
MARCH 4, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: ANNUAL REPORT ON THE DEATH PENALTY IN 2011
Iran Human Rights (IHR) presented its annual report on the death penalty in 2011 in Iran.
FEBRUARY 27, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN PUTS OFF EXECUTION OF CHRISTIAN PASTOR
Iran has put off the execution of Christian Pastor Yousof Nadarkhani -- probably in
FEBRUARY 19, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: TWO MEN HANGED IN MAZANDARAN
The Mazandaran Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor said that two rapists were executed
- FEBRUARY 14, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAN HANGED FOR ARMED ROBBERY
One prisoner was hanged in the prison of Zanjan, reported the state run
FEBRUARY 12, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN SCRAPS STONING, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR MINORS
Iranian news agencies reported that Iran's Guardian Council, a powerful body of clerics
FEBRUARY 8, 2012IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: FOUR PRISONERS EXECUTED IN QOM
Four prisoners have been executed in the prison of Qom in the past few days, reported
- FEBRUARY 6, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD FOR MEN ‘LINKED TO UK SPY’
Iran's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for two men convicted of killing three
- FEBRUARY 2, 2012IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: MAJOR CURRENCY SPECULATORS COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY
The chief of Iran's judiciary warned that major currency speculators could face the