Iran has executed two men accused of working for Israel and the United States, intensifying a sweeping crackdown linked to earlier anti-government protests and ongoing tensions with Western powers.
The executions, confirmed on Sunday by the judiciary, involved Mohammad-Amin Biglari and Shahin Vahedparast, whose death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran after a final review, according to the judiciary’s Mizan Online platform.
Authorities said the pair were implicated in protests that erupted late last year over economic hardship and escalated into nationwide demonstrations in January.
The unrest, which initially centred on rising living costs, quickly transformed into a broader anti-government movement, peaking on January 8 and 9. Iranian officials have maintained that the protests were hijacked by foreign-backed elements, leading to violence, destruction of property and loss of lives.
The latest executions form part of a broader campaign targeting individuals accused of links to opposition groups and foreign governments. Several others, including members of the outlawed People’s Mujahedin of Iran, have also been executed in recent days.
The development comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions following a conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, which reportedly escalated in late February.
Iranian authorities have put the death toll from the unrest at over 3,000, including security personnel and civilians, blaming what they described as “terrorist activities.”
However, the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a US-based rights group, has disputed the figure, claiming that more than 7,000 people — largely protesters — may have died, suggesting a significantly higher casualty count.
The wave of executions has drawn renewed attention to Iran’s handling of dissent, with critics warning of a deepening clampdown as authorities move to reassert control following months of unrest.