Iran Executes Protesters Amid Renewed Social Crackdown

The Iranian government is escalating domestic repression through record-level executions and a renewed crackdown on social behaviors. On July 29, 2026, authorities executed Abolfazl Sepahi and Amirhossein Safari in Isfahan, both of whom were arrested during anti-regime protests in January. United Nations estimates indicate 24 people have been executed since those protests, while Amnesty International reports at least 60 more remain at risk.

Simultaneously, security forces have increased enforcement of hijab laws in Tehran, Mashhad, Qom, and Rasht. These measures include shutting down cafes and destroying public benches to prevent social gatherings. In Tehran, Mayor Alireza Zakani urged police and the judiciary to punish women for hijab violations. These domestic actions coincide with a military conflict involving the United States and Israel, creating a divide between hard-line officials demanding stricter morality and pragmatists who argue such repression undermines the state's legitimacy.

In a related international development, the United States House of Representatives passed a resolution in July 2026 directing the president to remove armed forces from unauthorized hostilities against Iran.