Iran has executed two men convicted in connection with anti-government protests that erupted earlier this year, according to an announcement from the country’s judiciary. Ali Hemmati and Majid Nik-Andish were hanged following the confirmation of their sentences by the Supreme Court, the judiciary's Mizan Online website reported.

The men were found guilty of participating in riots in January in the northeastern city of Mashhad. These disturbances, which initially began in late December over economic grievances, escalated in early January into widespread anti-government demonstrations. According to the judiciary, the protests resulted in the deaths of four security personnel, and Hemmati and Nik-Andish were also accused of causing significant damage to public property, including the burning of shops, banks, buses, and trees.

Iranian authorities have described the January unrest as the result of “terrorist acts” allegedly orchestrated by the United States and Israel. The government attributes more than 3,000 deaths during the protests to these external influences. In contrast, several foreign-based non-governmental organizations contend that security forces used lethal force against largely peaceful protesters.

The protests followed a surge in the cost of living and quickly evolved into broader demonstrations against the government. During the period, US President Donald Trump publicly warned of military intervention in Iran, a move that preceded a joint attack on the country by the United States and Israel on February 28, which contributed to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

Since the onset of the protests and the subsequent conflict, Iranian authorities have increased arrests and executions. In 2025, Iran carried out at least 1,639 executions, the highest annual total recorded since 1989, according to reports from the NGOs Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty. Amnesty International has identified Iran as the country with the second highest number of executions globally.

The recent executions of Hemmati and Nik-Andish are part of a broader pattern of intensified judicial actions tied to both the anti-government protests and the regional conflict that followed. The government's approach continues to draw international scrutiny amid ongoing debates over human rights conditions within Iran.