Iranian authorities executed three men on Sunday after they were convicted of carrying out operations for Israel and the United States during a period of anti-government unrest in January. The state media reports, which cite information from the judiciary, confirmed that the individuals had been found guilty of participating in armed activities during the protests that occurred earlier this year.
The three men have been identified as Hassan Dioband, Hamid Kazemi, and Reza Zanganeh. According to the judiciary, the group was involved in using a variety of weapons, including firearms, grenades, and Molotov cocktails, to target both public facilities and civilian infrastructure. Specifically, the authorities stated that the group carried out an attack on an electricity substation in the city of Karaj, an act that resulted in significant power outages across parts of the region.
The legal proceedings against the men concluded following a ruling by the Supreme Court, which upheld the death sentences previously handed down by lower courts. In addition to the capital punishment, the judiciary had ordered the confiscation of the men's assets. The execution of these three individuals marks the latest in a sequence of death sentences carried out by the Iranian state in direct connection to the January protest movement, as the government continues to prosecute those it claims acted as foreign-linked agents.
Investigations into the group’s activities gained momentum following the arrest of Hassan Dioband on January 11. State officials alleged that Dioband was identified as a primary suspect in the orchestration of attacks on public property and the incitement of violence. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of ten other individuals who were accused of participating in the unrest while under his supervision. These secondary defendants have since been sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to 10 years.
The Iranian government has maintained a consistent stance throughout these proceedings, frequently linking domestic anti-government protests to external influence. Officials have repeatedly alleged that certain participants in the recent unrest were operating under the guidance or for the interests of Israel and the United States. This narrative has been used to justify the pursuit of severe legal penalties, including death, against those deemed to have disrupted national security.
These executions come amid a broader crackdown on civil disobedience in the country. The judiciary’s reports indicate that the state remains committed to holding individuals accountable for property damage and violence during the January period. As legal proceedings continue, the state's focus remains on identifying and punishing those accused of coordinating with foreign entities during the height of the protests.
The situation in Karaj and other affected areas remains under scrutiny as the authorities finalize their judicial actions against the remaining participants of the January incidents. While the primary cases against the three executed men are now closed, the state’s ongoing efforts to curb what it terms foreign-backed agitation continue to draw significant attention to Iran’s internal security policies and judicial processes.
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