Iran executed three men on Thursday in connection with protests that swept the country in January, including a 19-year-traditional wrestler whose case had drawn concern from the United States, state media reported.
The official news agency Mizan, affiliated with the Iranian judiciary, stated that the three were hanged after what it described as the completion of legal proceedings, which included the presence of defense lawyers and approval from Iran’s Supreme Court. The men – identified as Mehdi Qasemi, Saleh Mohammadi, and Saeed Davoudi – were convicted of their role in the deaths of two law enforcement officers during an attack on a police station, according to Mizan. The agency reported they used “white weapons,” including swords, knives, and machetes, in separate attacks against the officers.
Human rights groups have condemned the trials as shams. Amnesty International and others have alleged that forced confessions were used in expedited proceedings that “bore no resemblance to a fair trial.” The executions are believed to be the first carried out publicly by Iran in relation to the protests, prompting a prior warning from U.S. President Donald Trump against such actions.
The United States had previously expressed “deep concern” over the case of Mohammadi, a wrestling champion. In a January post on X, the U.S. Urged Tehran “to halt the execution of Saleh Mohammadi and all those sentenced to death for seeking their fundamental rights.”
The Norway-based Iran Human Rights NGO condemned Thursday’s executions as “extrajudicial killings,” warning that further executions could occur in the coming weeks. Its director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, stated the men were convicted following “unfair trials” based on confessions obtained through “torture and coercion,” asserting the executions were intended to instill terror and suppress dissent.
Anti-government protests erupted across Iran in early January 2026, fueled by economic hardship, a collapsing currency, and broader anger towards the clerical government, representing what activists described as the most significant unrest in decades. Iranian authorities responded with a brutal crackdown that, according to rights groups, resulted in the deaths of thousands of Iranians. These deaths prompted a warning from President Trump, who cautioned Iran against executions and told protesters that “help is on the way.”
Simultaneously, tensions in the region are escalating, with reports indicating increased attacks from both sides in the ongoing Iran war, contributing to a surge in oil prices, according to PBS News. Israel recently killed two senior Iranian leaders, while allies have rejected a call from former President Trump for assistance regarding the Strait of Hormuz, CBS News reported.
Iran likewise executed a man accused of spying for Israel, as reported by Mizan, according to The Jerusalem Post.
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