Iran has executed two men convicted of carrying out a bomb attack on a bus transporting pilgrims in 2023, an assault that killed a toddler and injured several others. The executions were announced by Iran’s judiciary news outlet Mizan, which said the men were linked to the Islamic State.
The bus was traveling from Tehran toward western Iran, near the border with Iraq, when the bomb detonated. Iranian authorities said the two men were directly involved in placing the explosive device on the vehicle. The attack targeted civilians and drew widespread condemnation inside the country.
Officials described the executions as part of Iran’s uncompromising approach to terrorism. The judiciary said any act threatening public security would be met with the harshest penalties under Iranian law. Reuters reported that the case was used by authorities to reinforce their stance against militant violence.
Iran regularly carries out the death penalty for serious crimes, including terrorism and murder, placing it among the world’s leading users of capital punishment. The practice has long been criticized by international human rights groups, which argue that trials often lack transparency and adequate legal safeguards.
The 2023 bombing highlighted ongoing security challenges for Iran, particularly along routes used by pilgrims and in regions near international borders. Iranian officials frequently blame extremist groups operating across porous frontiers for such attacks.
By carrying out the executions, Tehran aims to demonstrate both justice for the victims and deterrence against future attacks. The move underscores how security concerns and the use of capital punishment remain central to Iran’s domestic policy and its messaging to the wider region.