On Saturday, Iran carried out the execution of two men convicted for their involvement in a prohibited opposition organization and for engaging in activities aimed at destabilizing the Islamic Republic, the judiciary announced. These executions follow a series of recent death sentences targeting members of the banned People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), with four other individuals from the group executed earlier this week.
These developments occur amid heightened tensions stemming from Iran’s ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel. The conflict intensified following US-Israeli strikes on February 28, which resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader and have since escalated into a broader regional confrontation.
The judiciary’s Mizan Online website confirmed that Abolhassan Montazer and Vahid Baniamerian were executed by hanging after their sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court. Both men were found guilty of attempting rebellion through involvement in multiple terrorist acts, membership in the MEK, and conducting sabotage aimed at toppling the Islamic Republic. Details regarding the timing of their arrests have not been disclosed.
The MEK initially supported the 1979 Islamic Revolution but fell out with the ruling leadership during the 1980s. Since then, the group has operated in exile and remains designated as a terrorist organization by Tehran.
Iran ranks as the world’s second-highest executor after China, human rights organizations. Since the outbreak of the conflict, Iranian authorities have executed several individuals, including a man on Thursday convicted of collaborating with Israel and the United States during anti-government protests earlier this year. On March 19, three others were executed for killing police officers amid those protests.
Earlier in March, Iran also executed Kouroush Keyvani, a dual Iranian-Swedish citizen, on charges of espionage for Israel, a move that drew condemnation from both Stockholm and the European Union.
