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Iran executes detainee over January protests, judiciary says

By Thomson Reuters Oct 3, 2026 | 4:55 AM

Oct 3 (Reuters) – Iran has executed a man detained during protests in January for allegedly ​firing at police, the ‌judiciary said on Saturday.

The judiciary said Siavash Jamshidi Kheirabadi fired at least three shots at police on January 8 ‌and ​was arrested two ⁠days later with ⁠a handgun in Shahrekord in southwestern Iran.

It accused him of contacting people online to organise “anti-security” activities ​and seeking payment for a “mission”, without identifying who was purported ⁠to be behind ⁠it.

The protests erupted on ​December 28, 2025, over economic hardship ​and swelled into widespread demonstrations calling ‌for the end of clerical rule in the Islamic Republic.

Iran blamed armed groups and operatives ⁠backed by the US and Israel for involvement in the protests and for some ⁠of ‌the violence.

Israeli Heritage Minister ⁠Amichai Eliyahu acknowledged during ​the ‌protests that Israel had ​operatives inside ⁠Iran. He said they aimed to weaken Iran’s capabilities, though he denied they were directly working to topple the leadership.

(dubai.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com; Editing by ​Alison Williams)