Amnesty Condemns ‘Escalation’ in Iran Death Sentences

People walk through Tehran's Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP)
People walk through Tehran's Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP)
TT

Amnesty Condemns ‘Escalation’ in Iran Death Sentences

People walk through Tehran's Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP)
People walk through Tehran's Grand Bazaar in Tehran, Iran, Monday, July 27, 2026. (AP)

Amnesty International condemned on Tuesday an "escalation" in executions by Iranian authorities, hours after Tehran said two protesters had been hanged. 

Iran's judiciary announced the hanging of the two men on charges relating to anti-government protests that peaked in January, with media reporting they were executed in public. 

"The death sentences of Abolfazl Sepahi and Amir-Hossein Safari were carried out this morning," the judiciary's Mizan Online website said. 

Amnesty said in a statement that their execution, "following the arbitrary execution of at least three other protesters last week, marks a further escalation in the authorities' use of the death penalty to quash dissent". 

"The organization fears that at least 60 others, including three arrested as children, remain at risk of execution after being sentenced to death, while many others are facing prosecution on capital charges in relation to the protests." 

Iran's Mehr news agency reported that the hangings took place in "a square in the city of Malekshahr" in the central Isfahan province, with people present. 

The two were found guilty of "attacking police officers with machetes and knives, tying them to road signs, pulling them on the ground, dousing them with gasoline and setting them on fire" on January 8, Mizan said. 

It added that they had faced charges of "moharebeh", or waging war against God, and "corruption on earth for committing acts that severely disrupted public order and security", among others. 

UN experts called on Iran on Monday to cancel death penalties given to 12 men -- two of whom were executed on July 19 -- over the protests. 

"Sentencing 12 people to death in one hearing, in a closed courtroom and without clarity as to each defendant's individual responsibility violates established fair trial standards," the experts said. 

In late December, a protest movement initially sparked by the high cost of living rapidly evolved into widespread anti-government demonstrations. 

Rights groups based abroad say thousands were killed in the ensuing crackdown, with security forces firing on protesters. 

Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths, but attributed the violence to "terrorist acts" orchestrated by the United States and Israel. 

The US and Israel launched a joint attack on the country weeks later, on February 28, triggering the Middle East war. 

Since then, arrests and executions have multiplied in the country, linked to both the conflict and the protests. 

According to Amnesty, Iran conducts the second most executions of any country, after China. 



Russia Summons Japan Ambassador Over Disputed Islands Row

 In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin interacts with local residents on Iturup island, one of four islands in the contested chain known as the Kuril Islands in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, on August 13, 2026. (Gavriil Grigorov / Pool / AFP)
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin interacts with local residents on Iturup island, one of four islands in the contested chain known as the Kuril Islands in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, on August 13, 2026. (Gavriil Grigorov / Pool / AFP)
TT

Russia Summons Japan Ambassador Over Disputed Islands Row

 In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin interacts with local residents on Iturup island, one of four islands in the contested chain known as the Kuril Islands in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, on August 13, 2026. (Gavriil Grigorov / Pool / AFP)
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin interacts with local residents on Iturup island, one of four islands in the contested chain known as the Kuril Islands in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan, on August 13, 2026. (Gavriil Grigorov / Pool / AFP)

Japan's ambassador to Moscow was expected Tuesday to respond to Russia's summons over a row about disputed islands visited by President Vladimir Putin for the first time last week.

Bilateral relations have long been dogged by the Kuril islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and seized in 1945 by the Soviet Union which then expelled the Japanese population.

Putin, 73, visited the territories last Thursday, prompting Japan to summon Russia's ambassador in protest.

It was the first trip there by a Russian president since Dmitry Medvedev in 2010, who served as head of state from 2008-12 while Putin was prime minister.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the islands "are an inherent part of Japan's territory, both historically and under international law."

Moscow said Monday it had summoned the Japanese envoy, Akira Muto, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying that Tokyo had "crossed the line of decency".

Muto did not immediately accede to the summons however.

"We were told either that he was not in Moscow or that he was unwell. We did not quite understand the situation," Lavrov said.

Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova later told state news agency TASS that after Lavrov's comments the ambassador had "suddenly started feeling better" and would attend on Tuesday.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that Muto did not initially respond out of concern that Russia would unilaterally dominate the discussions, making a balanced exchange difficult.

However, Tokyo decided to reply to the summons after internal deliberations, NHK said citing unnamed sources.

Ties between Japan and Russia have worsened since the full-scale conflict in Ukraine began in 2022.

Japan has joined other G7 countries in sanctioning Russia and giving money and non-lethal defense aid to Kyiv, which like Washington recognizes Japanese sovereignty over the disputed islands.

Japan indirectly supports Ukraine's air defense by exporting domestically produced Patriot interceptor missiles to the United States, helping replenish US stockpiles that have been reduced by military aid to Kyiv.

Analysts said that Putin's visit to the Kurils could have been aimed at warning Japan off deepening support to Ukraine, potentially by supplying Patriot missiles directly, and cooperation with NATO.

While Japan has eased restrictions on defense exports in recent years, it remains unable to supply lethal military equipment directly to a country at war, including Ukraine.


Russia Downs 180 Drones in Moscow Region Overnight

Pedestrians walk past a destroyed DIY and construction materials mall "Galaktika" following an overnight attack, which local Russian-installed officials called Ukrainian drone strikes, in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on August 16, 2026, amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. (Photo by AFP)
Pedestrians walk past a destroyed DIY and construction materials mall "Galaktika" following an overnight attack, which local Russian-installed officials called Ukrainian drone strikes, in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on August 16, 2026, amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. (Photo by AFP)
TT

Russia Downs 180 Drones in Moscow Region Overnight

Pedestrians walk past a destroyed DIY and construction materials mall "Galaktika" following an overnight attack, which local Russian-installed officials called Ukrainian drone strikes, in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on August 16, 2026, amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. (Photo by AFP)
Pedestrians walk past a destroyed DIY and construction materials mall "Galaktika" following an overnight attack, which local Russian-installed officials called Ukrainian drone strikes, in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on August 16, 2026, amid the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian conflict. (Photo by AFP)

Russia downed 180 drones in the Moscow region overnight, the capital's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, said on the Telegram messaging app early on Tuesday, in one of the biggest Ukrainian air ‌attacks on ‌the Russian capital.

Drones ‌hit ⁠a warehouse of ⁠Russian e-commerce company Wildberries and other facilities near Moscow, regional governor Andrei Vorobyov said separately, adding that at least three ⁠people, including a 10-year-old ‌girl, were ‌injured in the region, reported Reuters.

Wildberries, a ‌frequent target of ‌Kyiv's attacks following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, said in a statement that the ‌warehouse experienced minor damage after drone debris hit ⁠one ⁠of its walls.

Overall, 620 drones were heading for the region surrounding the Russian capital between Monday evening and 5 a.m. (0200 GMT), according to Sobyanin, and Moscow was temporarily restricting flights at its airports.


UKMTO: Vessel Struck by Unknown Projectile in Strait of Hormuz, Crew Casualty Reported

Archive photo of ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz (AFP)
Archive photo of ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz (AFP)
TT

UKMTO: Vessel Struck by Unknown Projectile in Strait of Hormuz, Crew Casualty Reported

Archive photo of ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz (AFP)
Archive photo of ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz (AFP)

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received a report on Tuesday that a vessel was struck ‌by an ‌unknown projectile ‌while ⁠transiting outbound in the ⁠Strait of Hormuz, causing engine room damage and a crew casualty, with the ⁠remaining crew being ‌assisted ‌by the Omani Coast ‌Guard, Reuters said.

No environmental impact ‌has been reported and authorities are investigating, UKMTO said.

The incident ‌comes as shipping through the Strait of ⁠Hormuz remains ⁠severely disrupted, with vessel crossings still in the single digits, down from more than 130 a day before the war.