Photo by Art Guzman
Iran has executed nine individuals affiliated with the ISIL (ISIS) armed group, following convictions related to plotting terrorist attacks against civilians within the country.
The executions were carried out after the Supreme Court of Iran upheld the sentences, according to a report released Tuesday by the judiciary’s official Mizan News Agency. The agency stated that the individuals had been arrested in 2018 during a confrontation with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Iran’s western regions—a clash that reportedly resulted in multiple fatalities.
“The death sentences of nine members of the terrorist group were carried out after confirmation by Iran’s Supreme Court,” the report said, noting that the men had planned coordinated attacks targeting civilian populations across the country.
Charges against the individuals included waging war against God, armed rebellion, engaging in terrorist activity, and illegal possession of military-grade weapons. Following their arrest, Iranian authorities said a cache of arms and explosives was discovered at a base used by the group.
At the time of their capture, IRGC Ground Forces Commander General Mohammad Pakpour said the ISIL cell had intended to launch simultaneous attacks in border areas and central cities. He added that the arrest operation turned deadly as several fighters detonated suicide vests, resulting in the deaths of three Iranian soldiers.
ISIL, which once held large portions of territory in Iraq and Syria, has suffered major territorial losses in recent years due to a prolonged and intensive campaign led by the United States and allied forces. Nevertheless, the group has retained a presence and continues to stage sporadic and deadly attacks in various countries, including Iran.
In January 2024, ISIL claimed responsibility for twin bombings in Kerman targeting a memorial ceremony for slain Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. That attack killed more than 90 people and marked one of the deadliest such incidents in Iran in recent memory.
Earlier attacks linked to ISIL include the 2017 coordinated assault on Iran’s parliament and the shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which left at least 18 dead.
Iran frequently reports the arrest of alleged ISIL operatives. Just this week, authorities said 13 suspected members of the group were apprehended during raids conducted nationwide. Last month, ISIL also claimed an attack against Syrian army forces, the first such incident since the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Iran continues to rank among the world’s top executioners. According to Amnesty International, the country executed at least 972 individuals in 2023, making it second only to China in terms of the number of state-sanctioned executions carried out.
