Iran Executes 14 on Political Charges Amid War

Iranian authorities have executed at least 14 individuals on political and security charges in the three weeks since the war with the United States and Israel began on February 28, 2026, including protesters arrested during nationwide demonstrations in January. The executions, which rights groups describe as part of a broader crackdown to suppress dissent, come amid a near-total internet shutdown that has persisted for over a month and widespread reports of arrests and detentions.

The most recent cases involve seven men accused of involvement in an attack on a Basij militia base in eastern Tehran on January 7, during protests that drew crowds to more than 190 cities. All seven were sentenced to death in February by Branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati. Four have been executed: Amirhossein Hatami, 18, on April 2; Mohammad Amin Biglari, 19, and Shahin Vahedparast, 30, on April 5; and Ali Fahim, 23, on April 6. The judiciary's Mizan Online website stated that Fahim was convicted of "enmity against God," or moharebeh, for allegedly attempting to enter a classified military site to seize weapons while acting on behalf of foreign...