Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed grave concern over the sharp rise in executions in Iran, calling on the Islamic Republic authorities to immediately halt all executions.
In a statement released on Wednesday, August 5, Türk urged the regime to establish an immediate moratorium on the death penalty with a view to its ultimate abolition.
According to the UN statement, at least 56 people have been executed in Iran on national security-related charges since March 18. Of those, 27 cases were directly connected to the nationwide protests of January 2026.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) further noted that more than 100 other individuals face imminent execution on similar charges.
Türk also warned of a dramatic surge in drug-related executions, which account for the largest share of Iran’s annual execution tally.
