Iran Executes 1,639 People in 2025, Highest Number Since 1989 Amid War and Protests

Record Executions in 2025 Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, representing an absolute minimum for the number of hangings, Euronews reported, citing Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM).

This number marked a 68% increase from 975 executions in 2024. The total was the highest since IHR began tracking executions in 2008 and the most reported since 1989. IHR requires two sources to confirm an execution.

Almost all hangings in 2025 were carried out inside prisons. Public hangings more than tripled to 11 in 2025. Almost half of those executed in 2025 were convicted of drugs-related offences. 48 women were executed in 2025, a 55 percent increase from 31 women hanged in 2024.

Of the 48 women, 21 were executed for murdering their husbands or fiances. There were more than 500 other possible cases of executions in 2025 that were not included in the report as they could not be conclusively sourced, IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said.

Executions During War and Protests Iran hanged seven people in connection with the January 2026 protests during the war, Euronews reported, citing IHR and ECPM.

The protests were quashed by a crackdown that left thousands dead and tens of thousands arrested, according to rights groups. The authorities imposed an internet blackout during the January 2026 protests and the war, Amiry-Moghaddam said. Iran hanged six men convicted of membership in the banned opposition group People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) during the war.

Iran also hanged one dual Iranian-Swedish citizen charged with spying for Israel during the war. Hundreds of detained protesters remain at risk of death sentences and execution after being charged with capital crimes over January 2026 protests. Death sentences have been issued against at least 26 people arrested over the January 2026 protests, Amiry-Moghaddam said.

Several hundred more people arrested over the January 2026 protests are facing charges that could see them executed.

US-Iran Talks and Rights Concerns US-Iran talks in Islamabad occurred at the weekend but failed to agree a breakthrough, IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said.

There was no mention of the Iranian people's rights in the US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad, Amiry-Moghaddam stated. He said a moratorium on use of the death penalty and the release of all political prisoners must be demand number one in talks. " ECPM executive director Raphael Chenuil-Hazan said the reality is the same even after more than five weeks of war.

The war saw the killing of supreme leader Ali Khamenei, Chenuil-Hazan said.

Calls for Abolition in Negotiations Chenuil-Hazan said the question of abolition of the death penalty needed to be at the heart of any talks between Iran and the West on ending the conflict.

" Chenuil-Hazan said this could mean Iran has perhaps now even overtaken China as the world's top executioner. Amnesty International says Iran carries out the most executions of any nation worldwide per capita. Amnesty International says Iran carries out the most executions of any country other than China, for which no reliable data is available.