Iran executed Majid Adineh on Sunday, who was accused of acting as an agent for the U.S. and Israel and carrying a chainsaw during anti-government protests. The judiciary stated he was convicted of "operational action in favour of hostile groups."
The execution highlights the Iranian government's severe response to internal dissent and its framing of protests as foreign-orchestrated. It underscores the ongoing crackdown on opposition and the government's narrative linking domestic unrest to external adversaries.
Iran executed Majid Adineh on Sunday, who had been accused of acting as an agent for the United States and Israel and carrying a chainsaw during anti-government protests in January. The judiciary stated Adineh was convicted of "operational action in favour of hostile groups" and "deliberate arson, gathering and collusion with the intention of committing crimes against the country's internal security."
Adineh and another suspect were arrested on January 9 in Alborz province, west of Tehran, reportedly carrying a revolver, ammunition, tasers, tear gas canisters, a rechargeable chainsaw, and a bottle of gasoline. The Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced Adineh to death and ordered the confiscation of all his property. His appeal was unsuccessful, and the Supreme Court upheld the verdict, leading to his execution on Sunday morning.
The protests, which began in late December, were initially sparked by economic hardships but evolved into widespread anti-government demonstrations. Iranian authorities reported over 3,000 deaths from the unrest, attributing the violence to "terrorist acts" orchestrated by the United States and Israel. The number of executions in Iran has reportedly risen since the start of the Middle East war, with many linked to the protests.