Iran Executes Two Men Over Armed Rebellion Charges
Tehran — Iran executed two men on Thursday after convicting them of armed rebellion and membership in what authorities described as separatist militant groups, as Tehran intensifies security-related prosecutions during its conflict with the United States and Israel.
Iran’s judiciary said the two men, identified as Ramin Zaleh and Karim Maroufpour, were involved in armed attacks against security personnel and assassination plots in western parts of the country.
“Ramin Zaleh and Karim Maroufpour were hanged for membership in separatist terrorist groups, forming a group with the aim of disrupting the country’s security, armed rebellion through the formation of criminal groups, shooting and carrying out assassination attempts,” the judiciary’s Mizan Online news outlet reported.
The judiciary did not specify when the two men were arrested but said they had undergone training to become “leaders in the unrest.”
The executions are the latest in a broader increase in capital punishments since fighting erupted between Iran, the United States and Israel in February.
Iranian authorities have carried out multiple executions linked to anti-government unrest earlier this year, as well as cases involving alleged espionage and national security offenses.
Earlier this month, Tehran executed a man convicted of passing information to Israeli intelligence services. Iranian authorities had previously also executed an aerospace engineering student on similar espionage-related charges.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly criticized Iran’s use of the death penalty. Rights groups rank Iran as the world’s second-highest executioner after China.
The executions come amid heightened domestic security measures and increasing political tensions following months of regional conflict and internal unrest.
