Amnesty: Iran Doubled Its Executions Since Operation "Rising Lion"

Human rights organization "Amnesty International" published a new report this morning (Monday) pointing to a sharp rise in the number of executions around the world during 2025, with at least 2,707 people executed over the past year. That marks an increase of more than 66% compared with 2024.

According to the report’s findings, Iran is the main driver behind the steep rise in the numbers. The country recorded 2,159 executions during 2025 — more than double the figure from the previous year. Amnesty noted that this is the highest number recorded in both Iran and the world as a whole since 1981.

The organization linked the dramatic increase to the Iranian regime’s expanding use of the death penalty as a means of political repression, including against the backdrop of the war with Israel during Operation "Rising Lion" in June 2025 and the protests that erupted in the country. According to the organization, this trend has not stopped, but is continuing into 2026 as well.

Alongside Iran, the report also points to a worsening situation in other countries. Saudi Arabia recorded a peak figure of 356 executions, while Kuwait and Egypt saw significant increases, with executions tripling and doubling respectively. The United States also saw an increase, with 47 executions, a figure representing the highest number since 2009. Singapore recorded its highest figure in two decades, with 17 executions.

Amnesty estimated that China alone executes thousands of people each year, but because of the country’s "state secrecy" policy, the exact numbers cannot be verified. Despite the lack of full official data, the organization argued that China remains the country that executes the highest number of people in the world, and that the death penalty is used there as a means of deterring threats to regime stability.

Amnesty warns that the rise in the use of the death penalty is not happening in a vacuum, but is especially characteristic of regimes seeking to strengthen their political control. The organization argues that it is being used as a tool to "silence political opposition" and shrink civic space, while disregarding international human rights standards.