Iranian authorities on Monday executed two men convicted of having links to a banned opposition group and plotting to overthrow the government, according to the country’s judiciary.
The men, identified as Akbar Daneshvarkar and Mohammad Taghavi-Sangdehi, were hanged after their death sentences were upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court, the judiciary’s official news outlet reported.
Officials said the pair were members of the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (MEK), an opposition group that has operated in exile since the 1980s and is classified as a terrorist organisation by Tehran.
According to the report, the two men were accused of taking part in what authorities described as “terrorist acts,” including involvement in unrest and activities aimed at destabilising the country and undermining national security.
It remains unclear when they were arrested or whether they played any role in the most recent wave of protests.
The executions come at a time of heightened tension, as Iran remains locked in a conflict with the United States and Israel following strikes on the country in late February that triggered a wider regional crisis.
In recent months, Iran has also witnessed widespread protests that began over rising living costs before escalating into nationwide anti-government demonstrations.
Iranian authorities say more than 3,000 people, including security personnel and civilians, were killed during the unrest, which they describe as violent and influenced by foreign actors.
However, independent groups, including the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, report a significantly higher death toll, claiming that over 7,000 people mostly protesters may have been killed, with the true number possibly even higher.
