Iran has carried out the execution of protester Erfan Kiani, authorities announced on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The execution took place in Isfahan, according to the judiciary-affiliated Mizan News Agency.

Kiani had been arrested on January 8, 2026, in Isfahan amid a wave of anti-government protests. He was later sentenced to death by the Isfahan Revolutionary Court on charges of “moharebeh” (enmity toward God). State-linked Tasnim News Agency reported that the charges stemmed, in part, from allegations that he had brandished a machete to intimidate the public.

On the day of the execution, Iranian state media aired video footage of Kiani’s confessions. However, human rights organizations have strongly contested the legitimacy of the proceedings, claiming that the confessions were obtained under torture and that Kiani was denied a fair trial.

According to these groups, Kiani is the ninth protester executed in connection with the January 2026 demonstrations, raising renewed concerns over the Iranian government’s handling of dissent and the use of capital punishment in politically sensitive cases.