Iran has carried out the highest number of executions in decades, according to recent human rights reports, marking a sharp escalation in the use of capital punishment and drawing renewed international concern.
A joint report by human rights organizations, including Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty, found that at least 1,639 people were executed in 2025. The figure represents the highest annual total recorded since 1989 and reflects a significant increase compared to previous years.
The report states that executions rose by roughly 68% compared to 2024, with an average of more than four executions per day. It also suggests that the actual number may be higher, as not all cases are officially reported or independently verified.
Human rights groups say the surge reflects an intensified use of the death penalty as a tool of political control and social deterrence, particularly in the aftermath of ongoing domestic unrest and regional tensions. Many of those executed were reportedly convicted of drug-related offenses, murder, or vaguely defined national security charges such as “corruption on earth” or “enmity against God.”
The report also highlights concerns about due process, stating that many cases were handled by Revolutionary Courts where trials are often criticized as lacking transparency and fair legal safeguards. Ethnic and religious minorities are believed to be disproportionately affected.
In addition to the overall rise, the report documents other notable trends, including a significant increase in executions of women and cases linked to politically sensitive charges. Analysts say these patterns reflect a broader tightening of internal security measures.
International reaction has been strongly critical. Human rights organizations have called for an immediate moratorium on executions, arguing that the death penalty in Iran is being applied at a scale that violates international human rights standards. They also warn that the trend could worsen amid heightened geopolitical tensions and internal instability.
Iranian authorities have consistently rejected such criticism, maintaining that judicial actions are based on domestic law and are necessary to ensure national security and public order. Officials have also accused Western governments and rights groups of politicizing judicial matters.
The United Nations and other international observers have previously raised concerns about Iran’s use of capital punishment, particularly its application in cases involving political dissent and drug-related offenses. In recent years, Iran has frequently been identified as one of the countries with the highest execution rates globally.
While the reported figures for 2025 represent a significant spike, experts caution that limited transparency makes precise verification difficult. Nevertheless, the scale and pace of executions have been widely described as unprecedented in recent decades, intensifying pressure on Tehran from international human rights advocates.
As scrutiny grows, calls for reform continue to mount, though there is little indication that Iran intends to alter its current judicial practices in the near future.
