Iran Executes Three Men Over Alleged Ties to the US and Israel Amid Ongoing Protest Crackdown

On Sunday, Tehran’s judiciary confirmed that three men – Hassan Dioband, Hamid Kazemi and Reza Zanganeh – were executed after being sentenced to death for alleged collaboration with Israel and the United States and for taking part in violent demonstrations that erupted in January 2026.

The state media report says the trio were involved in a series of attacks in the city of Karaj, where they allegedly used firearms, grenades and Molotov cocktails to set fire to public buildings and sabotage an electricity sub‑station, plunging parts of the area into darkness.

According to the judiciary, Dioband was first arrested on 11 January, when investigators linked him to the string of property‑damage incidents and to calls for violent action. Ten other suspects, said to have operated under his direction, were detained in the weeks that followed.

All three men were handed death sentences, and the court ordered that their assets be seized. The Supreme Court later upheld the verdicts, while several co‑accused received prison terms ranging from five to ten years.

These executions are the latest in a spate of punitive measures taken by Iranian authorities against individuals they claim have foreign ties and who participated in the anti‑government protests that swept the country earlier this year. Human‑rights groups have warned that the rapid pace of trials and the use of capital punishment raise serious concerns about due process and the broader climate of repression.

While Tehran insists the men were guilty of terrorism and espionage, critics argue the charges are often vague and serve as a pretext to silence dissent. The executions underscore the regime’s determination to make an example of anyone perceived as a threat, especially those allegedly connected to foreign powers.