Iranian authorities have executed a man convicted of killing a police officer who was run over by a vehicle during clashes in 2022, the country’s judiciary has announced.
The execution was confirmed on Sunday by local prosecutor Aref Akbari, according to Mizan Online, the judiciary’s official news website.
Akbari said the death sentence against the man, identified in court as Danial, was carried out after judicial proceedings, with the Supreme Court upholding the verdict.
Danial was convicted of intentionally killing Reza Ehterami, a third lieutenant attached to Iran’s law enforcement agency in the southern city of Bandar Abbas.
Ehterami was killed in 2022 during clashes between police officers and fuel smugglers. State media reports at the time said he was struck and run over by a vehicle driven by the defendant.
The execution comes amid a reported increase in the use of capital punishment in Iran following the outbreak of the Middle East war in February and anti-government protests that began late last year.
Iran carries out more executions annually than any country except China, according to human rights organisations, including Amnesty International.
The country imposes the death penalty for several offences, including murder.
Despite being a major oil producer, Iran has some of the world's lowest fuel prices, a situation that has encouraged the illegal smuggling of fuel across its borders into neighbouring countries.
