Iranian authorities have executed a man convicted of killing a police officer who was run over by a vehicle during clashes in 2022, the country’s judiciary announced on Sunday.
The execution comes as Iran has increased the use of capital punishment following the outbreak of the Middle East war in February and anti-government protests that began late last year.
The judiciary’s Mizan Online website quoted local prosecutor Aref Akbari as confirming that the death sentence had been carried out against the man convicted of killing Reza Ehterami, an officer attached to Iran’s police emergency unit.
Akbari said the execution followed an investigation and trial, with the Supreme Court subsequently upholding the verdict.
The defendant, identified in court only as “Danial”, was found guilty of intentionally killing Ehterami, a third lieutenant serving with the law enforcement authorities in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas.
According to previous reports by Iranian state media, Ehterami died in 2022 after being struck by a vehicle driven by the defendant during clashes between police and fuel smugglers.
Iran carries out more executions annually than any country except China, according to human rights organisations, including Amnesty International.
Iran executes man for killing police officer during 2022 clashes