On April 30, 2026, Iran’s judiciary announced that protester Sasan Azadvar, a karate athlete, was executed at dawn in Isfahan. According to judiciary-affiliated reports, he had been charged over involvement in the January protests. Officials claimed he attacked police, damaged a patrol vehicle, attempted to set a police vehicle on fire, and threw stones at security forces.
At least ten protesters and dissidents have been executed since the beginning of April, according to compiled reports. This figure is in addition to ten members of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI) who have been executed since July 2025.
Concerns have also intensified regarding the possible execution of three additional political prisoners. The sudden and separate transfer of Nasser Bakrzadeh, Yaqoub Karimpour, and Mehrab Abdollahzadeh from Urmia Central Prison to undisclosed locations has raised fears of imminent implementation of their death sentences. Reports indicate that on April 30, 2026, Kurdish political prisoner Nasser Bakrzadeh was summoned to the enforcement office before being transferred to an unknown location.
Meanwhile, the state-run Mehr News Agency, which is linked to the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), reported the arrest of two men and one woman in Lorestan. Authorities alleged that the individuals were part of a three-person cell connected to dissident groups. Officials claimed the group had burned government banners and was receiving “military and ideological training” in preparation for further actions. The report also alleged that they had been tasked with planning attacks on government offices in western provinces using homemade explosives.
On the same day, Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, reiterated earlier remarks regarding the prosecution of individuals accused of cooperating with opposition groups. Speaking on April 30, he stated that “one of the legitimate demands of the people is that those who have committed crimes… must be prosecuted,” emphasizing that such individuals should be “identified quickly” and “tried quickly… according to the law, and based on fairness and justice.”
🚨 Iran Judiciary Calls for Rapid "Enforcement of Sentences"
— SIMAY AZADI TV (@en_simayazadi) April 30, 2026
In recent remarks, Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Eje’i called for accelerating judicial proceedings and enforcement of sentences.
“I emphasize again: these cases must be handled quickly, accurately, and… pic.twitter.com/M6yd7Un1eW
He further rejected calls against executions, stating: “They say, ‘No executions.’ Who are you to say no executions? You are dead wrong to say that a criminal… will not face every punishment permitted by law.” He added that the judiciary would proceed with issuing and implementing sentences promptly while informing the public at each stage.