According to reports from the Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Together Against the Death Penalty (EPCM), the execution rate in Iran has reached alarming levels, with the number of executions recorded in 2025 climbing to 1,639—the highest figure noted in the last 36 years.
This represents a 68% increase from 2024 when 975 executions occurred. The vast majority of those executed during the past year were convicted of drug-related crimes, while at least 57 faced security charges—this included two individuals linked to anti-government protests.
Activists from IHR and EPCM warned that the Iranian government may ramp up the use of executions as a tool for oppression, particularly in the aftermath of recent protests and ongoing hostilities with the United States and Israel.
The escalation of executions follows a significant crackdown on dissent, with numerous demonstrators arrested or killed during protests. Among those executed, six were members of the exiled opposition group, the Mujahideen-e Khalq (MEK), and one individual was convicted of espionage for Israel.
In addition to the evident human rights violations, the data also highlights that ethnic minorities and marginalized groups are disproportionately represented among those executed. Many sentences were handed down by Revolutionary Courts under what have been described as “grossly unfair trials,” igniting further outcry from human rights advocates.
As tensions in the Middle East continue to rise, human rights organizations are calling for urgent attention to the escalating use of capital punishment in Iran. Advocates argue that any future negotiations between the US and Iran must prioritize the abolition of the death penalty and address the dire need for protecting human rights.
