Executions in Iran Surge to Highest Level in Over 30 Years, Rights Groups Say
Two prominent human rights organizations have issued a stark warning about the use of capital punishment in Iran, reporting a dramatic rise in executions over the past year. In a joint release, Together Against the Death Penalty and Iran Human Rights said the number of executions in 2025 reached levels not seen in more than three decades.
According to the report, at least 1,639 individuals were executed across the country in 2025. The groups say this marks the highest annual total since 1989, signaling a sharp escalation in the application of the death penalty.
The figures represent a significant increase from the previous year. In 2024, rights monitors documented 975 executions. The jump to more than 1,600 cases reflects an increase of roughly 68 percent, underscoring what analysts describe as a rapidly intensifying trend.
Despite the already alarming numbers, both organizations caution that the true scale may be even greater. Due to restrictions on access to information inside Iran, many executions go unreported or are disclosed only after delays. As a result, the documented total is described as a minimum estimate rather than a complete count.
The report also highlights the execution of 48 women during the year, a figure that observers say points to a broader and more expansive use of capital punishment across different segments of the population.
Human rights advocates argue that the rise in executions cannot be viewed in isolation. Instead, they link it to broader political developments within the country. In particular, monitors warn that capital punishment is increasingly being used as a mechanism to exert control and deter dissent, especially in the wake of recent protests and periods of unrest.
The organizations expressed concern that this trend may continue. They point to ongoing political tensions and internal pressures as factors that could drive further increases in executions in the near future.
The report adds to growing international scrutiny of Iran’s judicial system and its reliance on the death penalty. Rights groups continue to call for greater transparency, independent monitoring, and ultimately, a halt to executions as part of broader human rights reforms.
