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
- 9,142
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 9,142 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
DECEMBER 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sajjad Marmozi executed in Ahvaz on December 20
- DECEMBER 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Moslem Salimi executed in Hamedan on December 20
- DECEMBER 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Behzad Hosseini-Rad executed in Kermanshah on December 20
- DECEMBER 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Kian Papi executed in Aligudarz on December 20
- DECEMBER 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Yashar Tehrani-Moqaddam executed in Karaj on December 20
- DECEMBER 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad-Javad Kalani executed in Nahavand on December 20
- DECEMBER 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hesam Nozari executed in Ardabil on December 20
DECEMBER 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Yarhossein Hassanvand executed in Khorramabad on December 20
- DECEMBER 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified man executed in Dezful on December 20
DECEMBER 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Aghil Keshavarz executed in Urmia on 20 December
Convicted of spying for Israel
DECEMBER 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Farhang Faramarzi Pour executed in Kahnuj on December 20
DECEMBER 18, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ariyo Niazi Vahdat executed in Kermanshah on December 18
DECEMBER 18, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Karam Reza Karami executed in Bojnurd on December 18
DECEMBER 18, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - On 17 December, Iran reached and exceeded 2,000 hangings since the beginning of 2025
DECEMBER 18, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - UN Adopts Resolution Condemning Human Rights Violations in Iran
Document A/C.3/80/L.30
DECEMBER 18, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Abolfazl Shirzadi executed in Malayer on December 18
- DECEMBER 18, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Jaber Torkaman giustiziato a Bukan il 18 dicembre
- DECEMBER 18, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified man executed in Taybad on December 18
- DECEMBER 18, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mahmoud Farahmand and Rasoul Shahi executed in Zanjan on December 18
- DECEMBER 17, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN Osman Ahmadi executed in Mahabad on December 17
DECEMBER 17, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Razieh Abbasi executed in Ghezel-Hesar on December 17
DECEMBER 17, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sajad Farahmand executed in Chabahar on December 17
- DECEMBER 17, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ebrahim Azizi executed in Malayer on December 17
- DECEMBER 17, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Karamkhoda Yari executed in Sabzevar on December 17
- DECEMBER 17, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Baghlani executed in Bushehr on December 17
- DECEMBER 17, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 2 unidentified men executed in Ghezel-Hesar on December 17
- DECEMBER 17, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Parviz Shabani executed in Mashhad on December 17
- DECEMBER 17, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Majid Tajik executed in Shiraz on December 17
- DECEMBER 17, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Yaroli Azimi executed in Kashmar on December 17
- DECEMBER 17, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mehrshad Askari executed in Damghan on December 17