Iran Executes Six Accused of Israel Ties in Khuzestan Province Amid Surge in Capital Punishment

Executions Carried Out in Khuzestan

On Saturday, October 4, 2025, Iran executed six individuals in its southwestern Khuzestan province. According to the judiciary's official Mizan website, these individuals were accused of being 'separatist terrorist elements' who carried out armed operations and bombings targeting security in the region on behalf of Israel. The executions took place at dawn.

The charges against the executed individuals included the killing of four security personnel, specifically two police officers and two members of the Basij paramilitary force, in 2018 and 2019. They were also accused of planning and executing acts of sabotage, such as making and planting bombs, and blowing up the Khorramshahr gas station. Further allegations included attacking banks, throwing grenades at military centers, and shooting at mosques. Iranian state media reported that the individuals had 'confessed' to these acts.

Context of Accelerated Executions

These executions are part of a broader trend of accelerated capital punishment in Iran, which human rights organizations describe as the highest in decades. The surge in executions follows a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel in June, after which Tehran vowed to target its adversaries both domestically and abroad.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, Iran Human Rights, and the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center, have reported that over 1,000 people have been executed in Iran in 2025 so far, marking the highest annual figure recorded in at least 15 years. Activists have raised concerns about the Iranian judicial process, particularly in cases linked to Israel, alleging reliance on coerced confessions and closed-door trials.

Khuzestan Province and Human Rights Concerns

Khuzestan, an oil-rich province with a significant Arab minority, has historically been a restive region. Insurgent groups have previously targeted oil pipelines and infrastructure, and the province has experienced waves of unrest during nationwide protests in recent years.

The Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, a Kurdish group, identified the six executed men as 'Arab political prisoners' who were reportedly arrested during the 2019 protests. Hengaw claimed that these individuals were subjected to severe torture and forced into giving televised 'confessions' under duress, and were allegedly linked to the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz.

Other Recent Executions

In a separate case on the same day, a seventh prisoner, Saman Mohammadi, was executed in Kurdistan province. He was convicted of 'Moharebeh' (waging war against God) for his alleged involvement in the 2009 killing of a Sunni cleric. Earlier in the week, on September 29, 2025, Iran also executed Bahman Choobiasl, who was accused of spying for Israel and working with its intelligence service, Mossad.