Iran continues executing protesters in bid to crush the next uprising

Key Points:

• On July 28, Iran publicly executed Abolfazl Sepahi Badjani and Amirhossein Safari Hosseinabadi in Isfahan’s Alikhani Square, following their detention during January’s uprising and convictions amid allegations of violence and weapons possession; the executions sparked protests and arrests in the square.
• Four days later, Arvin Kheirkhahan, another protester from the same uprising, was secretly executed at Shahrud Prison without prior family notification, highlighting contrasting methods of execution used by the regime to instill fear and suppress dissent.
• Since the protests that began in late December 2025, at least 27 individuals connected to the uprising have been executed, with Amnesty International warning that 60 more protesters, including minors, face death sentences amid allegations of torture, forced confessions, and unfair trials.
• The Iranian regime uses public and secret executions as part of a broader campaign of repression aimed at deterring future protests by targeting not only individuals but also their networks, employing charges like moharebeh and espionage to justify harsh punishments.
• Analysts view these executions as psychological warfare designed to maintain regime control amid economic collapse and political unrest, portraying protesters as foreign agents to legitimize repression and suppress any remaining defiance after the January crackdown.