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 2, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abbas Sad-Kharvi executed in Sabzevar on November 2
NOVEMBER 2, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ehsan Mehdipour + 1 executed in Arak on November 2
- NOVEMBER 2, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ashkan Mirali executed in Dezful on November 2
NOVEMBER 2, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammad Ali Golmohammadi executed in Malayer on November 2
- NOVEMBER 2, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Khodayar … executed in Taybad on November 2
NOVEMBER 2, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Saeed Moghanlou + 1 executed in Tabriz on November 2
NOVEMBER 2, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohsen Yarbigy executed in Karaj on November 2
- NOVEMBER 2, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abbas Hajiani executed in Sabzevar on November 2
NOVEMBER 2, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Elyas Rahimpour and Ali Shabani executed in Qom on November 2
NOVEMBER 2, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Elias Rahimpour and Ali Shabani executed in Qom on November 2
NOVEMBER 1, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 241 executed across Iran in October 2025, according to Hengaw
278 according to the count made by HoC
NOVEMBER 1, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mitra Zamani executed in Khorramabad on November 1
47th woman executed in Iran in 2025
- NOVEMBER 1, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hashem Mardani executed in Bojnurd on November 1
OCTOBER 31, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran "may be held accountable for crimes against humanity"
UN Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFMI)
OCTOBER 31, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Death Sentence of Naser Bekrzadeh Overturned
Political prisoner charged of espionage for Israel
OCTOBER 31, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Naser Mahidashti executed in Kerman on October 31
- OCTOBER 31, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Khodayar Faraji executed in Birjand on October 31
- OCTOBER 30, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Saeed Piri executed in Kermanshah on October 30
OCTOBER 30, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Amirhossein Zahedi executed in Mashhad on October 30
OCTOBER 29, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sharifeh Mohammadi’s death sentence commuted to 30 years’ imprisonment
Human rights defender
OCTOBER 29, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 1 woman, 2 men executed in Mashhad on October 29
Katayoun Shamsi (W), Saman Daliri + 1
- OCTOBER 29, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ahmad-Reza Sharifi + 1 executed in Kerman on October 29
- OCTOBER 29, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammad Toghdari executed in Gonbad on October 29
- OCTOBER 29, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 6 men executed in Ghezel-Hesar on October 29
Zakaria Mohammad Khanlou, Javad Naeimi + 4
- OCTOBER 29, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Majid Shahpasandi executed in Zanjan on October 29
- OCTOBER 29, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Majid Shahpasandi was executed in Zanjan on October 29
OCTOBER 29, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Milad Koubesh executed in Ghezel-Hesar on 29 October
- OCTOBER 29, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hooman Azadi executed in Kermanshah on October 29
OCTOBER 29, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Younes Zamani executed in Taybad on October 29
OCTOBER 29, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hossein Ekhlaspour executed in Baft on October 29