Iran executes over 500 people in 2026: rights group

Iran has executed over 500 people so far this year after a new surge in hangings in recent days, despite President Donald Trump urging the Islamic republic to halt executions, a rights group said on Thursday.

At least 511 people have been executed so far in 2026, according to Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights, including at least 29 people in connection with anti-government protests in January.

At least 16 women are among those executed and at least 13 "political prisoners" affiliated with banned opposition groups, it said.

Activists accuse Iran of using capital punishment as a means to intimidate the population in the wake of the protests and the war against the United States and Israel that erupted on February 28.

"All executions, regardless of the charges, have a clear domestic purpose -- to create fear and prevent new protests," IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam told AFP.

"We are very concerned that this trend could worsen in the coming months," he added.

Since wartime executions resumed on March 19, two people have also been executed in connection with the "Woman. Life. Freedom." protests that erupted in 2022.

Trump on Tuesday wrote on Truth Social that "the failing Islamic Republic of Iran is not paying large segments of their military, while at the same time killing protesters, even when they are not protesting, at levels not seen before".

"It is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, and must be stopped, NOW," he added.

Amiry-Moghaddam said that during the war the international community focused on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the conflict, giving "the authorities greater space to carry out executions of protesters, political prisoners, and others sentenced to death".

He welcomed Trump's comments, saying that "greater attention raises the political cost for the Islamic republic".

IHR says hundreds more protesters have either been sentenced to death or are facing charges which could carry the death penalty, including over 70 in Isfahan, the main city of central Iran, which saw intense protests in January.

According to Amnesty International, Iran executed at least 2,159 people in 2025. But authorities now appear to be intensifying executions of protesters and others deemed political prisoners during the conflict.

More than 30 nations, including France, Britain and Canada, this month condemned Iran's use of capital punishment, saying the Islamic republic was executing protesters to "silence dissent".

Iranian state media this week announced the execution of Majid Adineh, arrested in connection with the January 2026 protests in Karaj outside Tehran while several others have been executed in the last days following convictions including murder and armed robbery.