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
- 9,147
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 9,147 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
NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mousa Golpayegani executed in Semnan on November 23
- NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mahmoud Ali Soltanabadi and … Maleki executed in Qom on November 23
- NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Nazemi executed in Ahvaz on November 23
- NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 men executed in Arak on November 23
Mirza Janalizadeh + 2
NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Jafar Shokri executed in Birjand on November 23
NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Arsalan Behbahani executed in Sabzevar on November 23
- NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mehran Saqaei executed in Dorud on November 23
- NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hamid Amini and Ashkan Sohrabi executed in Kashan on November 23
- NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Shahmorad Dehqani + 1 executed in Shiraz on November 23
- NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified man executed in Maragheh on November 23
NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Alireza Froohandeh executed in Ardabil on November 23
- NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Kambiz Forrokhi executed in Ilam on November 23
- NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Nemat Gholami executed in Kashmar on November 23
- NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad-Ali Jahanian executed in Nahavand on November 23
NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Christian convert Kourosh Hosseini sentenced to prison term
- NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hamid Amini executed in Kashan on November 23
NOVEMBER 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Homayoun Shekarollahi executed in Borujerd on November 22
- NOVEMBER 22, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Sasan Misaghi executed in Yasuj on November 22
- NOVEMBER 22, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Peyman Alizadeh executed in Bandar Abbas on November 22
- NOVEMBER 22, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 2 unidentified men executed in Hamedan on November 22
- NOVEMBER 22, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ayoub Zeidi executed in Tabriz on November 22
- NOVEMBER 22, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ghasem Sarlak executed in Aligudarz on November 22
- NOVEMBER 22, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Yaser Abdoli and Yawar Hasali executed in Kermanshah on November 22
- NOVEMBER 22, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Jasem Aghaei executed in Karaj on November 22
- NOVEMBER 22, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Rastin Baharvand executed in Khorramabad on November 22
- NOVEMBER 22, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Amir Moradi executed in Sari on November 22
- NOVEMBER 22, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Tajik executed in Taybad on November 22
NOVEMBER 22, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Houshang Hashemzadeh executed in Sari on November 22
NOVEMBER 21, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - The Commander’s Daughter: How a Viral Photo Exposed Iran’s Elite Hypocrisy
- NOVEMBER 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mahan Sheikhi executed in Saveh on November 20