In the first three days of Ordibehesht 1404 (April 21–23, 2025), the Iranian regime’s judiciary executed at least 22 prisoners across various cities, a staggering figure that amounts to one execution every three and a half hours. These were not the outcomes of fair judicial proceedings, but rather state-sanctioned killings aimed at intimidating the public and tightening the regime’s grip on society.
This surge in executions comes at a time when the ruling Velayat-e-Faqih system is grappling with a perfect storm: deep internal deadlock, explosive societal unrest, and mounting international pressure. The death sentences, carried out in prisons such as Qezel Hesar, Yazd, Arak, Hamedan, and Gonabad, often involve vague charges and opaque legal processes—hallmarks of a regime that uses fear to govern.
Executions as a Political Weapon
In Iran, execution has long been more than just a legal punishment—it is a political instrument. Under the Islamic Republic, especially during times of unrest or transition, the regime turns to the gallows to silence dissent, break the spirit of protesters, and send a chilling message to society. This latest wave of executions, many of them carried out in silence and without fair trial, reflects the system’s deepening reliance on brute force.
The timing is no coincidence. As Tehran enters a new round of indirect talks with the United States—most recently in Rome—the regime appears to be ramping up executions as a form of domestic damage control. Facing fears of internal division and public outrage, the government is deploying executions as an emergency lever to restore its crumbling authority.
Parallel Tactics: Negotiation Abroad, Repression at Home
This juxtaposition—diplomacy abroad, brutality at home—is not new. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has long used this two-pronged strategy: negotiating with world powers while simultaneously escalating domestic repression. Historically, every round of nuclear or geopolitical talks has been accompanied by an uptick in executions and security crackdowns, a way for the regime to prove its strength both internally and externally.
Through these actions, the regime sends a dual message: to the Iranian people, it asserts dominance through fear; to foreign powers, it seeks to project stability and control. But this illusion is increasingly difficult to sustain.
A Society That No Longer Bows
Unlike in past decades, today’s Iranian society is no longer subdued by such tactics. The public response to executions is no longer passivity but defiance. Every act of state violence fuels further resentment and protest. Despite heavy censorship by state media, the spirit of resistance—particularly among the youth and organized “Resistance Units”—is alive and growing.
The regime’s failure to quell dissent through executions underscores the deep disconnect between the ruling elite and the Iranian people. The country is in the throes of a legitimacy crisis, marked by widespread poverty, systemic inequality, and a growing rift between the state and society.
The Dead End of State Violence
The regime’s escalating use of capital punishment is not a sign of strength, but of desperation. It is a costly and ultimately futile strategy, deployed in hopes of maintaining a fragile balance of power. But each drop of blood spilled by the state weakens its moral and political foundation, bringing it one step closer to collapse.
Iranian society today is increasingly convinced that meaningful change will not come through negotiation with a regime that answers unrest with executions. Instead, the path forward lies in a grassroots, organized movement for fundamental transformation—a movement already in motion, and gaining ground.
