Iran executes two men convicted of killing four security forces during the January protests in Mashhad

Iran executed two men for their role in the killing of four members of the security forces during the anti-government protests of January 2026 in the north-eastern city of Mashhad, as Al Jazeera reports, citing the state news agency IRNA.

According to the Iranian Judiciary’s Media Centre, the executions were carried out early on Wednesday, after the Supreme Court upheld the death sentences and the legal process was completed.

The January protests erupted in the midst of the seven-month war between Iran and the United States, at a time when Iran’s economy is increasingly burdened by sanctions and the American naval blockade. Iranian authorities have treated the protests harshly, accusing the organisers of links to foreign enemies.

The executions are expected to prompt reactions from human rights organisations, which have long criticised Iran for using the death penalty against protesters.