Iran Executes Two Men Linked to January Anti-Government Protests

Iran’s judiciary announced that two men were executed on Wednesday for their roles in anti-government protests that began in December and peaked in January. The protests started due to rising living costs and led to widespread demonstrations across the country.

The men, identified as Ali Hemmati and Majid Nik-Andish, were found guilty of participating in riots that resulted in the deaths of four security personnel in Mashhad, a city in northeastern Iran. They were also accused of causing significant damage to public property, including setting fire to shops, banks, and buses.

The executions took place after the Supreme Court confirmed their sentences. This comes amid a broader crackdown by Iranian authorities on dissent, which has intensified since the protests began.

The protests, which escalated in early January, were characterized by calls for political change and were met with a heavy response from security forces. Iranian officials have claimed that the violence was fueled by foreign interference, particularly from the United States and Israel, while human rights organizations report that security forces have fired on protesters.

In 2025, Iran recorded a significant increase in executions, with at least 1,639 people put to death, the highest number since 1989. Amnesty International notes that Iran has one of the highest rates of execution globally, second only to China.