Iran Vows to Crack Down on 'Enemy Accomplices' Amid Rise in Executions and Asset Seizures

Tehran, Iran – Iran's judiciary has pledged to continue 'firm' action against individuals accused of acting as accomplices for foreign powers, amid a sharp rise in executions and asset seizures.

In a national television broadcast late Monday, judicial and security authorities said they would 'act firmly against the enemy's stooges, showing no leniency until the last one is gone.'

The broadcast came just hours after the judiciary executed three men arrested in the northeastern city of Mashhad during nationwide protests in January. Senior officials described the protests as a US- and Israel-led 'coup' plot.

State media aired what it called confessions from the men, labeling them as 'agents' of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency and 'ringleaders of unrest.' The broadcast claimed they had resisted the government by attacking semi-military Basij forces with knives and swords, and vandalizing public property.

The number of inmates being hanged has increased in recent weeks, particularly since the US-Israel war with Iran erupted on February 28. These executions are linked to anti-government protests, during which thousands died amid a nationwide internet blackout imposed by authorities.

In Isfahan last week, Sasan Azadvar, 21, was executed for 'collaborating with the enemy.' According to the judiciary, his actions included 'attacking a minibus carrying security forces with stones and sticks, and breaking the windows of public buses and private vehicles.'

Authorities argue that while the trial process has been significantly expedited for those arrested in connection with the protests, procedures remain legal, and executions are only carried out after approval from Supreme Court judges.

International human rights organizations and Iranian opposition groups say prisoners have not received fair trials, and their families have been pressured into silence about arrests and executions. Iranian authorities reject these allegations.

Several inmates have also been executed after being convicted of spying for Israel and other national security offenses. Security charges can lead to a conviction for moharebeh, or 'waging war against God,' and other death sentences.

Earlier this week, two men were hanged for allegedly sending images of military facilities to Mossad, attempting to recruit others for sabotage operations, and calling security agencies with false information to divert them.

Numerous members of the Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK), an exiled group designated as 'terrorist' by Iranian authorities, have also been executed in recent weeks.

International human rights groups report that Iranian authorities in 2025 and 2026 conducted the largest number of hangings since 1989, when dissidents and MEK members were sentenced to death in large numbers.

A report by Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty last month said at least 1,639 executions were recorded in 2025, up 68% from the previous year.

The United Nations confirmed in late April that since the war erupted early this year, at least 21 people have been executed and more than 4,000 arrested on national security-related charges. Iranian authorities have not commented on these figures.

Economic measures

Iranian authorities have also seized private assets of Iranians at home and abroad in response to anti-government activities.

The latest move was announced Tuesday morning, when the judiciary said authorities in Semnan province, east of Tehran, had seized assets belonging to 22 'national traitors and those linked to the Zionist regime (Israel) and hostile nations.'

Amid a US-imposed naval blockade that has worsened an already struggling Iranian economy, authorities have also warned of action against any disruptions such as hoarding, and threatened up to 20 years in prison, flogging, and fines for those convicted.

Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei also warned that hoarders, price gougers, or sellers of expired goods will face 'firm' legal action.

Prices have surged across the country this week, especially for food, medicine, cars, and electronics. And challenging times lie ahead, with little sign of a lasting resolution to the conflict with the US and Israel, despite a ceasefire now in effect.

Iran's Central Bank Governor Abdolnasser Hemmati remarked on Tuesday: 'The current price levels are unacceptable. The price increases are due to the chaos of war and sanctions. But people should not worry because their resistance is working and, God willing, victory will soon be achieved.'