Iranian judicial officials confirmed the hanging of two men on Sunday. Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi were convicted of assaulting police officers in Isfahan during anti-government demonstrations that reached their height in January. The charges stemmed from allegations that the pair bound officers to a sign, threw stones, and set them ablaze with gasoline.
Prosecutors also accused the men of recording the violent acts and broadcasting the footage to international media outlets. The judiciary did not disclose the ages of the men or the specific timeline of their legal proceedings.
The protests, which originated in late December due to economic instability, transformed into broad political unrest. Iranian officials claim the violence resulted in over 3,000 fatalities, blaming the unrest on foreign influence. Conversely, international human rights organizations argue that government forces were responsible for opening fire on citizens.
Following a joint military strike by the United States and Israel on February 28, 2025, which initiated a conflict in the Middle East, legal actions and capital punishment have surged across the nation. Reports from Iran Human Rights and ECPM indicate that 1,639 individuals were executed in 2025, the highest tally since 1989. Amnesty International ranks Iran as the world’s second-most prolific user of the death penalty.
