Iran Hangs Two Men Over January Anti-Government Protests, Judiciary Says

Iranian authorities have executed two men convicted over their alleged involvement in anti-government protests that peaked in January, the country’s judiciary said on Wednesday. The executions add to concerns over the use of capital punishment against people linked to the unrest.

The two men, Ali Hemmati and Majid Nik-Andish, were convicted of involvement in what Iranian authorities described as riots in the northeastern city of Mashhad. The judiciary’s Mizan Online website said the unrest resulted in the deaths of four security personnel.

Iranian authorities also accused the two men of causing extensive damage to public property, including shops, banks and buses, as well as setting fire to trees. Their death sentences were confirmed by Iran’s Supreme Court before they were hanged early Wednesday, according to the judiciary.

The protests began in late December after demonstrations over economic difficulties and the rising cost of living. The movement later developed into wider anti-government protests, with the unrest reaching its peak on January 8 and 9.

Iranian authorities have reported more than 3,000 deaths linked to the unrest and have blamed what they described as terrorist activity backed by the United States and Israel. Foreign-based non-governmental organisations, however, have disputed the official account and alleged that Iranian security forces opened fire on protesters.

The executions come amid a broader increase in arrests and capital punishment in Iran following the protests and subsequent regional conflict. The country has faced heightened tensions involving the United States and Israel, adding to the pressure surrounding its internal security situation.

Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty reported that Iran executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, which they described as the highest annual figure in the country since 1989. The figures reflect the scale of Iran’s use of the death penalty in recent years.

Amnesty International has also identified Iran as one of the countries carrying out the largest number of executions globally, ranking second after China in its assessment. The latest executions are likely to draw further scrutiny from international human rights organisations over the treatment of people convicted in connection with political unrest.