Iran Executions Hit 35-Year High in 2025

Iran executed at least 1,500 people in 2025, according to the Norway-based Iran Human Rights group. This figure represents an unprecedented increase in capital punishment, marking the highest number of executions recorded in the country in the last 35 years.

The Iran Human Rights group described the provisional toll as "very alarming" and unprecedented since the organization's founding. The number represents a significant increase from the previous year, when Iran executed at least 975 people in 2024 according to data from Iran Human Rights and the French group Together Against. The sharp rise in executions has drawn concern from international rights organizations monitoring the situation.

The Iran Human Rights group announced on Thursday that Iran executed at least 1,500 people last year. The organization characterized this figure as an "unprecedented" hike in the use of capital punishment within the country.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the group's director, described the provisional toll as deeply concerning. "It is very alarming," he stated regarding the execution statistics. The director emphasized that this represents a historic high point in capital punishment activity.

The current execution figures mark a significant departure from historical patterns. According to the organization, this level of executions is unprecedented in the last 35 years. The Iran Human Rights group noted that since its establishment, it has never documented such high numbers of executions in a single year.

The 2025 execution figures show a dramatic increase compared to the previous year. In 2024, Iran executed at least 975 people, according to data compiled by Iran Human Rights and the French group Together Against.

The jump from 975 to 1,500 executions represents a substantial escalation in the application of capital punishment. This increase of more than 500 executions year-over-year highlights the accelerating pace of executions in the country.

The provisional nature of the 2025 figures suggests the final count may be even higher. The Iran Human Rights group continues to monitor and verify execution data as it becomes available.

The Iran Human Rights group, based in Norway, serves as a primary monitor of capital punishment in Iran. The organization works to document and publicize execution statistics to raise international awareness.

The group's director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, has been vocal about the alarming nature of these statistics. His statement that "As long as Iran Human Rights has existed, we have never had such numbers" underscores the historic nature of the current situation.

International rights organizations continue to track these developments closely. The Iran Human Rights group maintains ongoing documentation of capital punishment practices in Iran, working with partner organizations like the French group Together Against to verify and publish execution data.

The execution statistics released by the Iran Human Rights group paint a concerning picture of capital punishment in Iran for 2025. With at least 1,500 executions, the country has reached a 35-year high in the application of the death penalty.

The unprecedented nature of these figures, combined with the significant increase from 2024's 975 executions, suggests a troubling escalation in the use of capital punishment. As the Iran Human Rights group continues its monitoring work, these statistics serve as important documentation of human rights developments in Iran.