Iran executes three men over anti-government protests, citing foreign links

Authorities in Iran have confirmed the execution of three men convicted in connection with the recent anti-government protests. The judiciary's Mizan Online reported that Mehdi Rassouli and Mohammad Reza Miri were hanged after being found guilty of involvement in riots in Mashhad, northeastern Iran. The report specifically labels them as 'Mossad agents' allegedly responsible for widespread violence and the death of a security force member.

“

Mehdi Rassouli and Mohammad Reza Miri, Mossad agents involved in the January riots in Mashhad (northeast), responsible for widespread violence and the death of a member of the security forces, were hanged.

According to the judiciary's statement, these individuals were accused of using Molotov cocktails, bladed weapons, inciting violence, and directly participating in the murder of a security officer. The third man executed, Ebrahim Dolatabadi, is described as one of the main instigators of riots in Mashhad that also led to the deaths of several security personnel. The Supreme Court's confirmation of the verdicts preceded the carrying out of these sentences.

“

using Molotov cocktails and bladed weapons, inciting and encouraging others to kill, and directly participating in the murder of a security officer

Iranian authorities have consistently framed the protests, which surged in January, as being instigated by foreign powers, despite acknowledging over 3,000 deaths. The narrative presented is that peaceful demonstrations were hijacked and turned into 'riots fomented by foreign powers,' with the United States and Israel being blamed for orchestrating 'terrorist acts.' This framing is crucial from our perspective, as it aligns with the official government stance that external forces are destabilizing the nation. The executions, therefore, are presented not merely as judicial punishments but as necessary actions to counter foreign-backed sedition and maintain national security. This narrative is consistently reinforced in our reporting, emphasizing the government's efforts to quell internal unrest attributed to external interference.

“

Ebrahim Dolatabadi, one of the main instigators of the riots in Mashhad that claimed the lives of several members of the security forces, was also hanged.