Authorities in Iran on Thursday executed two men convicted of armed rebellion and membership in what the government described as “separatist terrorist groups.”
According to Iran’s judiciary, the two men — identified as Ramin Zaleh and Karim Maroufpour — were accused of involvement in armed attacks against security forces and assassination attempts in western parts of the country.
The judiciary’s official news platform, Mizan Online, said the pair were convicted of forming criminal groups aimed at destabilising national security, engaging in armed rebellion and participating in violent attacks.
“Ramin Zaleh and Karim Maroufpour were hanged for membership in separatist terrorist groups, forming a group with the aim of disrupting the country’s security, armed rebellion through the formation of criminal groups, shooting and carrying out assassination attempts,” the report stated.
Iranian authorities said the men had reportedly undergone training to become leaders during periods of unrest, although officials did not disclose when they were arrested.
The executions come amid an increase in death sentences and security-related prosecutions in Iran following tensions linked to ongoing conflict involving Israel and the United States.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have repeatedly criticised Iran’s use of capital punishment, with the country ranking among the world’s highest users of the death penalty.
Iran has recently carried out several executions involving individuals accused of espionage or offences linked to national security.
Earlier this month, Iranian authorities executed a man convicted of allegedly supplying information to Israeli intelligence agencies, while an aerospace engineering student had previously been executed on similar charges.
