The Iranian government put Ali Hemmati and Majid Nikandish to death on Wednesday following convictions for crimes committed in the northeastern city of Mashhad. The judiciary accused the men of killing four security personnel during demonstrations in January 2026 and identified them as "field operatives" in an alleged coup attempt. The executions occurred after the Supreme Court upheld the sentences and completed all legal procedures.

Tehran has used broadly worded charges such as espionage and armed rebellion to target dissidents and remove political opponents. Human rights organizations state these labels are routinely applied to protesters and political prisoners to portray them as security threats and provide a legal pretext for execution.