Iran's Lawyers Warn of Planned Mass Executions Following Trump Talks
Iran has entered a new phase of systematic repression, with lawyers warning of an unprecedented scale of crackdowns despite ongoing diplomatic meetings with the United States. Reports from Independent Persian indicate a sharp increase in military raids on protesters' homes and a dramatic rise in demands for the death penalty in recent weeks.
Unprecedented Arrests and Charges
Defence lawyers across Iran have described the current situation as unparalleled in the past 47 years. In the northern Mazandaran province, one lawyer stated, "The number of detainees is extremely high and unprecedented compared with any other uprising or protest. The volume of serious charges and requests for capital punishment by investigating judges is also without precedent."
For example, Fa'ezeh Ahmadi, a 27-year-old protester from Mazandaran, was arrested on 9 January 2026. Prosecutors charged her with leading a group of protesters during interrogation, and she now faces the death penalty for moharebeh (waging war against God), despite a complete absence of evidence. The lawyer added, "My assessment is that they are waiting to see how things settle with Trump, and if the risk of a military strike subsides, they will execute thousands."
Secret Executions and Denial of Due Process
Reports have emerged of secret executions in cities like Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad, where bodies were transferred to mortuaries. Officials claimed these protesters were killed during street clashes, contradicting evidence of their arrests. Another lawyer from Tabriz explained, "In recent weeks, several thousand protesters have been arrested, and cases involving serious charges such as moharebeh are being referred to Branch 15 of the Investigative Court."
These cases are processed rapidly without legal formalities, not registered in the judiciary's electronic system, and lack case numbers. Many detainees are under 18, with lawyers barred from accessing cases and families threatened with arrest if they seek information.
Escalating Home Raids and Forced Confessions
A defence lawyer from Fars province confirmed an escalation in night-time home raids, stating, "The pattern of arrests has completely changed. Security forces now enter homes at any hour, without judicial warrants, breaking down doors, confiscating phones and laptops, and taking people away blindfolded and beaten." In many instances, no written arrest records exist.
Detainees are transferred to undisclosed centres and subjected to intense pressure for forced confessions. Charges like moharebeh, corruption on earth, or collaboration with foreign governments are raised without evidence, aiming to fabricate cases for death sentences.
Families Threatened and Ignored
In Razavi Khorasan province, home to Mashhad, a lawyer reported that hundreds were arrested in home raids over 48 hours, with families having no information on their loved ones' whereabouts. "Many families have been explicitly told not to come looking for their children as they will be executed," he said. They are warned that speaking to media or seeking legal representation could hasten executions, even without court sessions or verdicts.
A New Phase of Systematic Repression
Following the mass killing of unarmed civilians during recent uprisings, Iran has adopted home raids, mass arrests, denial of defence rights, and death penalty charges as primary tools of intimidation. Lawyers warn that if international silence persists, the risk of mass executions is more grave and imminent than ever, marking a dangerous escalation in state-sponsored terror.
