Iron fist: Iran confronts the opposition through executions

Iran is witnessing a notable acceleration in the pace of carrying out death sentences, in a trajectory that reflects an increasing hardening of the authorities’ approach toward the opposition.

According to Mizan, the news agency affiliated with the Iranian judiciary, authorities on Thursday executed a man convicted of having links with the exiled opposition group “People’s Mojahedin Organization” as well as with the Israeli intelligence service.

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The agency stated that the man’s name was Sultan Ali Shirzadi Fakhr, that he had long been a member of the People’s Mojahedin Organization, and that he was convicted of cooperating with Israeli intelligence services.

Mizan added that the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence and that it was carried out after the completion of legal procedures.

On Wednesday, the same agency revealed that Iran had executed a man convicted of spying for the Israeli intelligence service and transmitting sensitive information.

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It specified that “the man was named Mehdi Farid,” adding that he “held a position within a civil defense unit of an important organization and exploited his authority to collect information and transmit it to the Israeli Mossad.”

Last month, Iran executed three men convicted of killing two police officers during the January protests, raising concerns among human rights organizations such as Hengaw that Tehran is intensifying executions targeting political detainees and protesters amid mounting military and international pressure.

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