Iran said on Saturday (October 3, 2026) it had executed a man convicted of a raft of charges including firing a military-grade weapon at police officers during anti-government protests earlier this year.
Siavash Jamshidi was accused of targeting security personnel during mass demonstrations that peaked in January, in which thousands of people were killed.
Iran announces execution of two anti-government protesters Since that time, Iranian authorities have stepped up executions of convicts linked to the unrest.
"Jamshidi was sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh through brandishing and firing a firearm, as well as conspiracy and collusion against national security," Iran's judiciary said, using the legal term moharebeh to mean "waging war against God".
The judiciary's Mizan Online website said he was also found guilty of offences not related to the protests, including "fraud, making threats, theft, possession and carrying of an illegal military-grade weapon".
Iran executes over 500 people in 2026: rights group Other charges included "complicity in kidnapping, brandishing a weapon to intimidate, and intentional infliction of bodily harm".
Mizan said Jamshidi was "active" during the demonstrations, which were sparked in December last year by grievances over living costs in Iran, but peaked on January 8 and 9 with huge rallies.
Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths in the unrest, attributing the violence to "terrorist acts" orchestrated by the United States and Israel.
Foreign-based NGOs however maintain that Iranian security forces fired on protesters.
U.S.
President Donald Trump threatened at the time to intervene militarily in Iran.
Weeks later, in late February, the United States and Israel launched a joint attack on the Islamic republic, triggering the Middle East war.
Since then, arrests and executions have multiplied in Iran, linked both to the war and the protests.
In 2025, Iran executed at least 1,639 people, the largest number in any year since 1989, according to the NGOs Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty.
Amnesty International says Iran carries out more executions than any country except China.
