IHR Reports Sharp Increase in Executions in Iran by Early December 2025
The Iran Human Rights (IHR) organization has verified at least 1,500 executions in Iran by early December 2025, marking more than double the verified 975 executions recorded in 2024. Since Iran does not publish official execution figures, these numbers are based on IHR's monitoring and verification efforts.
The increase in executions began before the 2022 protests but intensified notably following the death of Mahsa Amini. Per IHR, there were approximately 520 executions in 2022 and 832 in 2023. About 99% of these executions are reportedly for murder or drug-related offenses, while protests or allegations of espionage account for a small share.
Activists claim the regime uses executions as a method to deter internal opposition, especially when it perceives itself to be under threat. The surge in executions in 2025 has also been linked in part to broader conflict dynamics, including the June 12-day war with Israel and setbacks experienced by Iran's proxy forces.
The Iranian government defends the use of the death penalty, stating that it is applied only for the most severe crimes.
