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
SEPTEMBER 14, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Elyas Shiroozehi executed in Zahedan on September 14
SEPTEMBER 14, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Maziar Karami and Peyman Ajami executed in Hamedan on September 14
SEPTEMBER 14, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Rasoul Paydari executed in Qom on September 14
- SEPTEMBER 14, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Kazem Mousavi executed in Rasht on September 14
SEPTEMBER 14, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 4 men executed in Shiraz on September 14
SEPTEMBER 14, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sajad Mohajer executed in Mashhad on September 14
SEPTEMBER 14, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Reza Sarani executed in Kashmar on September 14
SEPTEMBER 14, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ahmad Haqi and Majid Soleimani executed in Ilam on September 14
- SEPTEMBER 14, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Reza Sarani executed in Kashmar on September 14
SEPTEMBER 13, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hafez Ghavidast executed in Rasht on September 13
SEPTEMBER 13, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Rouhollah Rostami executed in Hamedan on September 13
SEPTEMBER 12, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Political prisoner Naser Bekrzadeh sentenced to death
For the second time
SEPTEMBER 11, 2025United KingdomDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Update on the condition of the Foremans
British nationals arrested while crossing Iran on motorbikes
SEPTEMBER 11, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hadigheh Abadi and Younes Mazarshams executed in Qazvin on September 11
Wife and husband
SEPTEMBER 10, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Behzad Parsa and Abdollah Mohseni executed in Gorgan on September 10
SEPTEMBER 10, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Youssef Asadi Kahbad and Ahmad Bani Asad executed in Ahvaz on September 10
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Rasoul Khanmohammadi executed in Gorgan on September 10
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Javad Mohammadpanah and Hamid Farjam executed in Qom on September 9
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Saman Abdoli executed in Dezful on September 9
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ali Razavi executed in Kerman on September 9
SEPTEMBER 8, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 1,008 executions since the beginning of 2025
By 31 December the death toll could reach 1,500
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mohammadali Gholizadeh executed in Malayer on September 8
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ahmad Shamlu executed in Hamedan on September 8
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Unidentified man executed in Lordegan on September 8
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Javad Mohammad-Panah executed in Qom on September 8
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Omid Rahmani and Kamyar Najafzadeh executed in Kermanshah on September 8
SEPTEMBER 8, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Political Prisoner Pejman Toubrehrizi sentenced to death
On the charge of membership in the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran
SEPTEMBER 7, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 5 men executed in Tabriz on September 7
Keyvan Mamadi, Najib Azarm, Babak Omarzadeh, Houshang Hanareh, and Tawfiq Ne’mati
SEPTEMBER 7, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammad Mirbaluchzehi executed in Manujan on September 7
SEPTEMBER 7, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ahmad Rafiei and Abdolreza Karimi executed in Arak on September 7