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
AUGUST 26, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Maliheh Haghi executed in Tabriz on August 26
30th woman executed in Iran in 2025
AUGUST 26, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ehsan Khani executed in Navahand on August 26
- AUGUST 26, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ahmad Dehani executed in Zahedan on August 26
- AUGUST 26, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Alimorad Naseri executed in Semnan on August 26
AUGUST 26, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 83rd Week of the “No to Execution Tuesdays” Campaign
AUGUST 25, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Asad Shabani executed in Nishapur on August 25
914 executions since the beginning of 2025
- AUGUST 23, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Taher Firoozi executed in Gorgan on August 23
AUGUST 21, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Unidentified man executed in public on August 21
In Kordkuy, Golestan
- AUGUST 21, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Man hanged in public on August 21 identified as Taghi Damghani
AUGUST 21, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men executed in Isfahan on August 21
Abdol Sabzi, Shamsollah Kheiri, Mehdi Kazemi
- AUGUST 21, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Abdolamir Hasangol executed in Dezful on August 21
AUGUST 21, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ali Osat Akbari executed in Buin Zahra on August 21
- AUGUST 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mehsa Akbari executed in Shiraz on August 20
One day after her husband’s public execution
AUGUST 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Farshad Hamegan and Hossein Mokhtari executed in Rasht on August 20
- AUGUST 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hossein Karimi and Taleb Rikani executed in Isfahan on August 20
AUGUST 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 4 men executed in Isfahan on August 20
Hossein Karimi, Reza Abbasi, Taleb Reikani, Morteza Sayvand.
AUGUST 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Amir Mohammad Faroughi executed in Qorveh on August 20
AUGUST 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Naghi Shahi executed in Tabriz on August 20
AUGUST 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mokhtar Fazeli executed in Ahvaz on August 20
- AUGUST 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Vali-Karam Jaberi executed in Qazvin on August 20
- AUGUST 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Naghi Shahi and Yashar Lejehi executed in Tabriz on August 20
- AUGUST 20, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Morteza Sayvand and Reza Abbasi executed in Isfahan on August 20
AUGUST 19, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Sajad Molayi Hakani executed in public on August 19
IHR considers it particularly serious that children witness hangings.
- AUGUST 19, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 men executed in Kerman on August 19
Hassan Kahrazehi, Abedin Kahrazehi, Milad Narouyi
- AUGUST 19, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Behzad Zeinali executed in Arak on August 19
- AUGUST 19, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Hafiz Siahkhani executed in Iranshahr on August 19
AUGUST 19, 2025IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Six men executed in Bandar Abbas on August 19
- AUGUST 19, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 men executed in Kerman on August 19
Safarali Keyfari, Milad Narouei + Unk.
- AUGUST 19, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Mostafa Arjangi executed in Ardabil on August 19
- AUGUST 19, 2025IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Saeed Joghatay executed in Sabzevar on August 19