Iran has executed at least 29 prisoners since the regional war began. The death toll is rising alongside the escalating conflict with the US and Israel. This surge in killings marks a sharp turn in state repression.
Recent hangings on May 13 targeted both cybersecurity experts and civil activists. The killings come as Tehran intensifies its crackdown on perceived internal threats. We look at the specific profiles of those caught in the latest wave of executions.
Rising Execution Toll Amid Regional Conflict
Iran has executed at least 29 prisoners since the start of the war with the US and Israel. The killings have accelerated alongside the regional conflict.
Authorities have ramped up the use of the death penalty. This increase specifically targets cases involving alleged espionage or security-related charges[2].
Pressure is mounting. The United Nations Fact-Finding Mission[3] reported a surge in repression following Israeli airstrikes in June. They described an extraordinary spike in executions across the country.
Violence is rising.
Many of those held in custody are still awaiting trial. There is no official timeline for the release or processing of these remaining prisoners.
May 13 Executions: Espionage and Civil Unrest
Two prisoners were hanged on the same day, May 13, 2026[1]. The executions targeted two very different types of defendants. One man was a cybersecurity specialist[1] convicted on espionage charges. The other was a protester who had been found guilty of killing a security officer.
These deaths occurred as Tehran began a broader crackdown on perceived internal threats. The state has ramped up executions[2] since the conflict with the US and Israel began. Authorities are increasingly focusing on cases involving alleged espionage or security-related charges.
Security is the primary driver.
Officials in Tehran use national security and espionage laws to justify these killings during the ongoing war. This trend suggests a shift toward using the death penalty to suppress dissent and counter foreign influence. The state views these actions as a necessary defense of its sovereignty.
The world is watching
Global leaders are responding to the rising death toll with growing alarm. The United Nations Fact-Finding Mission[3] reported a surge in repression and an extraordinary spike in executions following Israeli airstrikes in June. This surge follows a period of intense regional instability.
Diplomatic tensions are mounting as the executions become a central point of friction. The United States and Israel view these hangings as a hostile act that escalates tensions[1]. They argue the killings serve to further destabilise the region.
Tehran maintains a different stance. The Iranian government cites national security and espionage laws[1] as the legal basis for the deaths. They describe the actions as a legitimate defense of their sovereignty.
No one is certain what happens to the others. Most prisoners held since the war began remain in custody. They are currently awaiting trial or execution with no official timeline provided.
Most prisoners held since the war began remain in custody. They are currently awaiting trial or execution with no official timeline provided. The fate of these individuals remains a central point of friction in the region.
