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
- 8,611
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 8,611 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
- JANUARY 15, 2024IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Narges Mohammadi has been sentenced to a further 15 months
Nobel Peace Prize for 2023
- JANUARY 15, 2024IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Death sentences of ten political prisoners upheld
Mojahed Kourkouri, Reza Rasaei, Farhad Salimi, Anwar Khezri, Khosrow Besharat, Kamran Sheikheh, Mohsen Mazloum, Mohammad Faramarzi, Vafa Azarbar, and Pejman Fatehi
JANUARY 15, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - New Charges Against Two Journalists After Their Release
Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamedi published photographs on social media without wearing head scarves
JANUARY 15, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Yaghoub Alimoradi executed in Nahavand on January 15
- JANUARY 14, 2024IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - At least six men executed in Karaj on January 14
Ahmad Latifi, Ali Akbar Moradian, Akbar Khoramtash, Hadi Nazari, Seyed Ali Miri and Amirhossein Maleki
JANUARY 13, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Reza Heidari executed in Khorramabad on January 13
JANUARY 13, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 17 Groups Call for Action to Halt Execution of Four Kurdish Political Prisoners
Mohsen Mazloum, Pejman Fatehi, Vafa Azarbar, and Hajir Faramarzi
- JANUARY 11, 2024IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Ali Mohammad Ahmadi executed in Kermanshah on January 11
JANUARY 11, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Falit Abed executed in Qazvin on January 11
JANUARY 11, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Meisam Habibi executed in Kermanshah on January 11
JANUARY 11, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Nizam Dehmordeh executed in Yazd on January 11
JANUARY 7, 2024IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Yousef Sobhani and Akbar Javadzadeh executed in Rasht on January 7
- JANUARY 4, 2024IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - Soheil Jalvaran and Hojat Kalkhoran executed in Ardabil on January 4
- JANUARY 3, 2024IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 3 men executed in Ardabil on January 3
Naser Peydayi, Mohammad Nadiri, and Farzad Mohammadi
DECEMBER 28, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men “recently” executed in Karaj
Akbar Qara Gozlu, Ehsan Hamedi + Unk.
DECEMBER 28, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 4 political prisoners executed in Urmia on December 28
3 men and 1 woman: Aram Omri, Rahman Parhazou, Vafa Hanareh, and Nasim Namazi
DECEMBER 28, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Hassan Rahbar executed in Gorgan on December 28
DECEMBER 28, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Karim Aminikhah executed in Bandar Abbas on December 28
DECEMBER 28, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Reza Eyvazi executed in Kashan on December 28
- DECEMBER 27, 2023IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - 4 men executed in Ardabil on December 27
Yasin Khodakarami, Alireza Nejati, Jebreil Fadayi, Ali Zaman Khani
DECEMBER 27, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ismaeil Ghader Magham (Barahoei) executed in Birjand on December 27
DECEMBER 27, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Ramin Faghiri Executed in Hamedan on December 27
DECEMBER 27, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mansour Salamat killed under the torture on December 27
DECEMBER 27, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men executed in Birjand on December 27
Ismail Qadir Maqam, Ahmad Gergij, Mohammad Hissari
DECEMBER 26, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammad Reza Mehraban executed in Sanandaj on December 26
DECEMBER 23, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 3 men executed in Isfahan
Shirali Saeidi and Saman Mogouei on December 23, Reza Keshavarzi on December 22
DECEMBER 23, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Karamullah Lorestani and Hossein Papi executed in Khorramabad on December 23
DECEMBER 21, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mohammad Saleh Amini Executed in Taybad on December 21
DECEMBER 21, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Mojtaba Ayami executed in Qom on December 21
DECEMBER 20, 2023IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - 6 Unidentified Men Executed in Ardabil on December 20
Drug-related executions have continuously risen every year for the past three years