Iran’s judiciary has announced the execution of two men convicted of killing police officers during anti-government protests that swept across the country earlier this year.
The two men, identified as Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, were hanged on Sunday after being found guilty of involvement in a deadly attack on police officers in the central city of Isfahan.
According to a statement issued by the judiciary, the pair were convicted of tying police officers to a road sign, assaulting them with stones, dousing them with gasoline and setting them on fire during the unrest.
Authorities further alleged that the two men recorded the incident and shared the footage with foreign-based television channels.
The judiciary did not disclose the ages of the accused or provide details regarding the dates of their arrest, trial or sentencing.
The executions are linked to a wave of protests that erupted in late December over rising living costs and worsening economic conditions. What began as demonstrations against economic hardship later evolved into widespread anti-government protests across several Iranian cities.
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The unrest reached its peak in early January, with demonstrations intensifying on January 8 and 9.
Iranian authorities have maintained that the violence during the protests was fueled by what they described as terrorist activities backed by foreign powers, particularly the United States and Israel. Government figures put the death toll from the unrest at more than 3,000 people.
However, international human rights organizations and foreign-based advocacy groups have disputed the official narrative, alleging that security forces used excessive force against protesters.
The executions come amid increased scrutiny of Iran’s use of capital punishment. Human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns over the country’s growing number of executions.
According to rights groups Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM), Iranian authorities carried out at least 1,639 executions in 2025, the highest annual figure recorded in the country since 1989.
Amnesty International ranks Iran as the world’s second-highest executioner after China, citing the extensive use of the death penalty for a wide range of offences.
The latest executions are expected to reignite debate over human rights, judicial transparency and the use of capital punishment in Iran as the country continues to face international scrutiny over its handling of dissent and political unrest.
