U.S. Warns Iran Against Executing Protesters

The State Department on Thursday warned Iran against executing three individuals, Majid Kazemi and Saleh Mirhashemi, and Saeed Yaghoubi, in connection with their participation in protests against the government in Tehran last year, TURAN's Washington correspondent reports.

"We join the people of Iran and the international community in calling on Iran to not carry out these executions," Vedant Patel, principal deputy spokesperson, told a daily press briefing.

The execution of these men – after what have been widely regarded as sham trials – would be "an affront to human rights and basic dignity in Iran and everywhere," as Patel put it.

He went on to add, "It is clear from this episode that the Iranian regime has learned nothing from the protests that began with another death, the death of Mahsa Amini in September of last year. We once again urge Iran’s leadership to stop the killing, stop the sham trials, and respect people’s human rights." 

The Islamic Republic has been ramping up the use of the death penalty, including by executing four protesters last year, prompting international condemnation.

When asked by TURAN whether Washington was willing to sanction Iran's high-ranking leaders for gross human rights violations, Patel said, since the death of Mahsa Amini, the U.S. with its allies and partners has taken "appropriate steps" to hold the Iranian regime accountable.

"We’ve not hesitated to take action. This action, we know, is having a direct impact on Iran both just as it relates to their own country but also the standing that it has in the international community," he concluded.

Alex Raufoglu