Iran’s judiciary warns against ‘infiltrators’, announces new executions | US-Israel war on Iran News
Tehran, Iran – The Iranian judiciary has announced multiple executions this week in connection with recent unrest, part of a larger campaign against individuals accused of inciting division amid the ongoing conflict with the United States.
On Wednesday, the judiciary’s official news source reported the execution of Mehdi Khanaki, described as an “active element of a terrorist group” arrested during nationwide protests in January. State television aired footage of security forces conducting a raid in Karaj, near Tehran, where they claimed to have discovered firearms, ammunition, and explosives. A revolutionary court in Karaj found Khanaki guilty of engaging in actions supporting the “Zionist regime, the United States, and hostile groups.”
On Sunday, two additional men were executed in relation to a case involving 16 defendants tied to deadly protests in Isfahan on January 8. Authorities allege that these men contributed to the fatalities of several police officers, although foreign-based activists have disputed the state’s claims, citing a lack of due process and allegations of torture.
The protests originally erupted on December 28 in central Tehran, initially addressing economic grievances but quickly escalating into widespread discontent against the government, reminiscent of previous demonstrations.
Officials have labeled the unrest, which reportedly resulted in numerous deaths during the nights of January 8 and 9, as a “coup” orchestrated by the United States and Israel. They have dismissed findings from Amnesty International and other human rights organizations that allege mass unlawful killings during an extensive internet and communications blackout.
The aftermath of the protests has seen tens of thousands of arrests, coinciding with a conflict that began on February 28 between Iran and Israel. The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations criticized what it termed “increased prison sentences and ongoing pressure” on educational activists in a statement last week.
Security-related offenses have been addressed under a law enacted following a brief conflict with Israel in June 2025, which aims to impose stricter penalties for actions deemed detrimental to national security. The state has confiscated assets from hundreds of Iranians, including both domestic and expatriate businesspeople and celebrities.
State media has periodically broadcast confessions from those arrested or executed on terrorism-related charges. In a recent broadcast, a young man, his face blurred for anonymity, stated he posted anti-regime content on social media during the current conflict. He expressed regret, claiming, “I made a mistake… nobody else has the right to commit aggression against our country.”
On July 13, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence released a list identifying “hostile media,” which includes various networks and notable journalists. The ministry warned that sharing information with these entities could result in imprisonment and permanent exclusion from public service.
Meanwhile, Iranian authorities have intensified rhetoric emphasizing unity in the face of outside threats. Mojtaba Khamenei, appointed as Iran’s supreme leader in March, called for “sacred unity” among citizens and political factions during a recent televised address. Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei echoed this sentiment, cautioning against “devils among humans and jinn” that aim to incite division among the populace.
The situation has drawn the attention of the United States, which suggests growing divisions within Iranian leadership regarding strategies for the ongoing conflict, particularly related to the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials, however, have dismissed such characterizations.
