Iran’s judiciary warns against ‘infiltrators’, announces new executions

What the report says

Al Jazeera reported from Tehran on July 22, 2026, that Iran’s judiciary has announced several executions tied to recent unrest and security cases, while warning against people it described as infiltrators seeking to divide the country during the war with the United States. The judiciary’s news outlet said Mehdi Khanaki was executed after being accused of links to a terrorist group and actions in favor of Israel, the US and hostile groups. State television showed a raid in Karaj, near Tehran, where weapons and explosives were allegedly found.

The report said two other men were executed on Sunday in a case involving 16 defendants linked to deadly January 8 protests in Isfahan. Authorities said they were involved in the deaths of police officers, while foreign-based activists alleged torture and a lack of due process. The demonstrations reportedly began in late December over economic grievances in central Tehran before spreading into broader anti-establishment unrest. Iranian officials have characterized the unrest as a US- and Israel-backed coup, a framing disputed by international human rights groups.

Al Jazeera said many security-related prosecutions are now being pursued under a law enacted after Iran’s 12-day war with Israel in June 2025, designed to toughen penalties for espionage and cooperation with enemies. The report also cited asset confiscations, televised confessions, and a July 13 Intelligence Ministry list warning against sharing material with listed hostile media outlets or accounts.

Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, speaking alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior judges, urged unity and warned that divisive actors could present themselves as insiders. The developments matter because they show Iran expanding wartime security enforcement while rejecting claims of internal splits over how to respond to US pressure.