Javad Zamani and Abolfazl Saedi convicted of waging war against God and ‘corruption on earth’ for allegedly participating in January anti-regime rioting
Protesters display a banner calling for a halt to executions in Iran during a rally in Berlin, Germany, on January 10, 2026, in support of the Iran protests. (John MacDougall / AFP)
Iranian authorities on Tuesday executed two men after convicting them for their alleged role in anti-government protests that peaked in January, the judiciary said.
“The death sentences of Javad Zamani and Abolfazl Saedi, armed leaders of the January 2026 coup attempt, were carried out,” the judiciary’s official outlet Mizan Online reported.
The executions were carried out after the pair were convicted of moharebeh — waging war against God — and “corruption on earth,” both capital offenses.
They were found guilty of “the deliberate destruction of public and private property with the intention of confronting the system of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Mizan said.
Iran has in recent weeks stepped up executions of convicts found guilty of allegedly acting on behalf of Israel and the United States, which launched strikes on Iran that triggered a wider regional conflict on February 28.
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Many of the executions were of people linked to protests that broke out prior to the war, which Iranian authorities labeled as “foreign-instigated riots.”
This image from video taken between January 9 and January 11, 2026, and verified by AP, shows bodies and mourners outside a morgue in Iran, following a crackdown on protests in Kahrizak, Tehran province. (UGC via AP, File)
Iran brutally suppressed the protests, with opposition groups saying tens of thousands were killed in the crackdown that included live fire at crowds.
Iran executes more people annually than any other nation besides China, according to rights groups.
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On Monday, the United Nations said Iran had executed at least 40 people, including 18 protesters, since the start of 2026.
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