Iran Executes Two Men Over Alleged Separatist And Armed Rebellion Activities

Iranian authorities on Thursday executed two men convicted of armed rebellion and membership in what the government described as “separatist terrorist groups,” marking the latest in a series of executions carried out during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The executions come amid growing international concern over Tehran’s increasing use of the death penalty on security-related charges.

According to Iran’s judiciary, the two men — identified as Ramin Zaleh and Karim Maroufpour — were convicted of involvement in armed attacks against security personnel and alleged assassination plots in western Iran. The judiciary’s Mizan Online website said the pair were found guilty of armed rebellion, forming criminal groups aimed at disrupting national security, and participating in shootings and attempted assassinations linked to separatist organisations.

Iranian authorities also alleged that the two men had received training to become leaders during periods of unrest inside the country. However, the judiciary did not specify when they were arrested or provide further details regarding the evidence presented during their trials. Rights organisations have frequently criticised Iran over a lack of transparency in national security-related prosecutions and executions.

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The executions drew condemnation from the United Nations, with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressing concern over the sharp rise in executions since the escalation of regional conflict earlier this year. In a statement posted by his office on social media, Turk’s office said at least 34 people had been executed on political or national security charges since the military escalation began, including individuals linked to anti-government protests held in January.

The UN rights office accused Iranian authorities of using the ongoing conflict as a means to suppress dissent and called on Tehran to impose a complete moratorium on executions. Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly criticised Iran’s extensive use of capital punishment, with the country regarded as one of the world’s leading executioners after China.

Since the outbreak of hostilities earlier this year, Iran has executed several individuals accused of espionage or security-related offences. Earlier this month, authorities executed a man convicted of allegedly passing information to Israeli intelligence agencies. An aerospace engineering student had also previously been executed on similar charges, reflecting Tehran’s increasingly hardline approach toward perceived threats to national security during the regional crisis.

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