Iranian authorities have officially confirmed the issuance of death sentences to at least seven individuals detained during recent anti-government demonstrations, marking the first domestic acknowledgment of such judicial decisions. The Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization had previously documented numerous death penalty cases among protesters, but Tehran’s confirmation signals an escalation in the government’s response to dissent.
Legal representatives for three condemned prisoners—19-year-old Mohammad Amin Biglari, 31-year-old Yaser Rajaeifar, and 40-year-old Shahab Zohdi—revealed their clients received death rulings on February 7th. Defense attorney Hassan Agakhani disclosed that neither he nor co-counsel Maryam Sadrnia have been permitted access to case files or trial proceedings, creating severe procedural irregularities in the judicial process. Four additional defendants—Abolfazl Salehi Siavashani, Amir Hossein Hatami, Shahin Vahediparast, and Ali Fahim—face identical sentences in connection with the same case.
The government’s delayed announcement of these sentences contrasts with previous protest responses, where executions were rapidly carried out to intimidate dissenters. This unusual postponement follows former U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning of potential military retaliation should executions proceed.
Contradicting official statements regarding detained minors, educational activists report at least 50 students remain imprisoned despite government claims of universal releases. Mohammad Habibi, spokesperson for the Council of Teachers’ Unions, disputed Education Minister Alireza Kazemi’s assertion that all student protesters had been freed, noting families’ reluctance to publicize detentions over fears of complicating release negotiations. Authorities have attempted to justify ongoing youth detentions by claiming those held aren’t formally enrolled students—an argument legal experts reject as violating compulsory education age protections.
Simultaneously, Iran’s electoral landscape shows further contraction of political participation. The finalized candidate list for upcoming urban and rural council elections reveals systematic exclusion of reformists and conservative critics. The Etemad daily newspaper characterized the widespread disqualifications as evidence of “structural contraction in local politics” rather than mere factional competition. Reformist figure Ismail Gerami-Moghaddam, himself barred from candidacy, condemned the purges as demonstrating governing bodies’ refusal to adapt despite mounting international pressure and domestic unrest.
In a separate development, Iranian authorities attributed a mass text message received by approximately 50,000 citizens—purportedly from U.S. President Trump threatening imminent action—to foreign hacking of the national messaging system. This incident mirrors similar cybersecurity breaches following last year’s military confrontation with Israel.