Tehran: Iran has executed nine individuals affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group, convicting them of planning coordinated terrorist attacks targeting civilians in 2018. The executions were confirmed by Mizan Online, the judiciary’s official news agency, after Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentences.
Authorities said the group aimed to infiltrate Iran and launch simultaneous attacks in both border areas and major urban centers. The executions are part of Tehran’s broader crackdown on ISIS-linked operatives, even as the global threat from the group has diminished in recent years.
Arrests Linked to Deadly 2018 Clash
The origins of the case date back to January 2018, when the jihadist cell engaged in a violent confrontation with Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards. During the clash, several militants reportedly detonated suicide vests, killing three Iranian guards.
“This cell intended to infiltrate Iran and carry out simultaneous attacks on border and central cities,” General Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ Ground Forces, said during the initial investigation.
Following the incident, surviving members of the group were captured in western Iran. Their trial process extended over several years, culminating in the Supreme Court’s final approval of the death penalty.
Mizan Online reported that the defendants “benefited from a fair trial,” citing substantial evidence, confessions, and witness testimonies as the basis for the verdict. However, the agency did not disclose the exact date the executions were carried out.
International Concerns Over Trial Fairness
While Iranian authorities assert that due process was observed, international rights groups such as Amnesty International have consistently voiced concern over the fairness of trials in Iran, especially those involving terrorism-related charges and the use of capital punishment.
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Iran remains among the world’s top executioners, second only to China. The Islamic Republic frequently resorts to the death penalty for crimes including terrorism, drug offenses, and political dissent — drawing criticism from human rights advocates who question the transparency and independence of its judiciary.
Ongoing Crackdown on ISIS Affiliates
The executions come amid ongoing efforts by Iranian security forces to suppress ISIS activity within the country. Just days before the announcement, local police conducted coordinated raids across four provinces, arresting 13 individuals suspected of ties to the Islamic State.
Despite the Islamic State’s territorial defeat in Iraq and Syria, Iranian officials warn that the group continues to pose a domestic threat through underground networks and sleeper cells.
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As Iran maintains its uncompromising approach to terrorism, the latest executions underscore both the government’s determination and the continued friction with global human rights observers over due process and capital punishment.
