The United Nations reports that Iran has executed at least 18 protesters in 2026 and that the overall number of executions connected to “national security grounds” is higher. UN officials say that since the start of the year, at least 40 people have been executed under such charges. The UN also describes a broader crackdown that includes arrests of thousands and tighter restrictions on civic space.
In remarks attributed to UN rights chief Volker Türk, he says he feels for people in Iran who are dealing with both war and what the UN characterizes as cruel repression. The outlets presenting the reports align on the core UN figures—18 protesters executed and at least 40 executions in total on national security grounds—and on the UN’s assessment that authorities have intensified actions affecting civil society.
The reports do not provide details on who is responsible for the executions, the charges involved, or the legal processes used. They present the claims as statements by UN officials based on their human-rights reporting.
