Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, described the trials as a sham involving forced confessions and fast-tracked proceedings. The United States has previously said it was “deeply concerned” by reports about Mohammadi’s conviction, describing him as a wrestling champion. People gather while blocking a street during a protest in Tehran, Iran, on January 9. Tehran’s calculus may have shifted because earlier US warnings about executions have lost deterrent value, according to Farahmand. Advertisement Advertisement“Now that the United States has already attacked, the regime no longer has any reason to hesitate in carrying out death sentences,” he said.

Source: CNN March 20, 2026 19:57 UTC