Iran has executed two men convicted over their involvement in anti-government protests that swept across the country earlier this year, as authorities continue a wide-ranging crackdown following months of political unrest.

The judiciary identified the two as Erfan Esfandiari and Gol-Mohammad Mohammadi, saying they were sentenced to death after being found guilty of attacking police officers during demonstrations in the central city of Isfahan.

According to the judiciary, the pair were convicted of tying police officers to a road sign with ropes, injuring them with stones, dousing them with gasoline, and setting them on fire during the unrest.

Prosecutors also alleged that they recorded the incident and shared the footage with television stations based outside Iran.
The authorities did not disclose when the two men were arrested or tried, and no details were released regarding their ages.

The protests first broke out in December over the rising cost of living before spreading nationwide and developing into demonstrations against the government.

The movement reached its height in early January, drawing a heavy security response.

Iranian officials have maintained that more than 3,000 people died during the unrest, blaming what they described as “terrorist acts” supported by the United States and Israel.

However, international rights organisations have disputed that account, alleging that many protesters were killed by security forces. The demonstrations were followed by escalating regional tensions after U.S.

President Donald Trump threatened military action against Iran. Weeks later, the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on the country, leading to a broader conflict in the Middle East.

Since then, Iranian authorities have intensified arrests and executions linked to both the earlier protests and the ongoing conflict.

Human rights groups Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) reported that at least 1,639 executions were carried out in 2025, marking the country’s highest annual total in more than three decades.

Amnesty International also continues to rank Iran among the world’s leading executioners, second only to China.

Sunday’s executions are expected to draw renewed international scrutiny as concerns persist over the country’s use of capital punishment and the handling of protest-related cases.