Judge Is Stabbed to Death in Southern Iran 

An Iranian woman walks past a wall painting of Iran's national flag in Tehran, Iran, 21 May 2025. (EPA)
An Iranian woman walks past a wall painting of Iran's national flag in Tehran, Iran, 21 May 2025. (EPA)
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Judge Is Stabbed to Death in Southern Iran 

An Iranian woman walks past a wall painting of Iran's national flag in Tehran, Iran, 21 May 2025. (EPA)
An Iranian woman walks past a wall painting of Iran's national flag in Tehran, Iran, 21 May 2025. (EPA)

A judge was stabbed to death on his way to work in the southern Iranian city of Shiraz on Tuesday morning, state media reported.

A report by the official IRNA news agency called the killing a “terrorist act,” adding that two unidentified assailants are still at large. It identified the judge as Ehsum Bagheri, 38, who worked for the city's judicial department.

Bagheri in the past worked as a prosecutor in the revolutionary court, which deals with security and drug smuggling cases.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack

Iran has witnessed other killings of judges in the past.

In January, a man fatally shot two prominent hard-line judges in Iran’s capital Tehran, both of whom allegedly took part in the mass execution of dissidents in 1980s.



Britain, France and Germany Condemn 'Threats' against Head of IAEA Watchdog

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) logo and Iranian flag is seen in this illustration taken June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) logo and Iranian flag is seen in this illustration taken June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
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Britain, France and Germany Condemn 'Threats' against Head of IAEA Watchdog

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) logo and Iranian flag is seen in this illustration taken June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) logo and Iranian flag is seen in this illustration taken June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Britain, France and Germany condemned on Monday what they described as threats against the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) watchdog, and called on Iran to guarantee the safety of IAEA staff on its territory. 

"France, Germany and the United Kingdom condemn threats against the Director General of the IAEA Rafael Grossi and reiterate our full support to the Agency and the DG in carrying out their mandate," said a joint statement issued by the foreign affairs ministries of those three countries, according to Reuters. 

"We call on Iranian authorities to refrain from any steps to cease cooperation with the IAEA. We urge Iran to immediately resume full cooperation in line with its legally binding obligations, and to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and security of IAEA personnel," they added. 

Their joint statement did not specify what threats had been made against Grossi. 

On Monday, Iran said it could not be expected to guarantee the safety of IAEA inspectors, so swiftly after its nuclear sites were hit by Israeli and US strikes in the 12-day war that ended with a ceasefire last week. 

"How can they expect us to ensure the safety and security of the agency's inspectors when Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities were attacked a few days ago?" Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told a news conference. 

The IAEA's board voted earlier this month to declare that Iran was in violation of its obligations under the global nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iranian officials have suggested that vote helped pave the way for Israel's attacks. 

Baghaei said a parliamentary bill approved by the Guardian Council makes it mandatory for the government to suspend cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. 

"Iran shouldn't be expected to accept its obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) when the UN nuclear watchdog has stopped short of condemning the attacks on Iran's nuclear sites," Baghaei said.