UN human rights experts have said they are appalled by a dramatic escalation in the number of executions in Iran, with more than 1,000 people killed during the first nine months of 2025.
The sheer scale of executions in Iran is staggering and represents a grave violation of the right to life, the five special rapporteurs warned in a joint statement.
They noted that half of the known executions were for drug-related offences and that nine hangings per day on average had been documented in recent weeks.
There was no immediate comment from Iran. However, the government has previously defended its use of the death penalty, saying it is limited to only the most severe crimes.
This alarming uptick in executions occurred alongside Iran's announcement of the execution of a man accused of spying for Israel.
The judiciary's Mizan news agency identified him as Bahman Choubi Asl, claiming he worked on sensitive telecommunications projects and was linked to Israel's Mossad intelligence agency.
This case highlights a growing trend, with 11 individuals convicted of espionage executed this year alone, particularly following the recent conflict with Israel.
Last week, Amnesty International and Iran Human Rights reported that 1,000 executions had been recorded since January, surpassing the total from the previous year. Concerns remain regarding the integrity of trials, often marred by allegations of torture and mistreatment.
UN experts insist that Iran's methods are in stark contradiction to international law, which limits capital punishment to the most serious offenses. They call for the global community to take diplomatic actions to halt this execution spree and address these systemic human rights violations.
