Iran has executed 21 people and arrested more than 4,000 others on national security grounds since the Middle East conflict escalated in February 2026, the United Nations (UN) has said.
The UN said the crackdown followed the outbreak of hostilities linked to US-Israeli strikes, which increased tensions across the region and triggered tighter security measures inside Iran.
According to the report, Iranian authorities carried out nine executions connected to the January 2026 protests, while ten others involved people accused of belonging to opposition groups.
Authorities also executed two people over spying allegations.
UN human rights chief criticised the actions and raised concerns over reports of torture, forced disappearances and televised confessions involving detainees.
He said the growing number of arrests and punishments showed a wider clampdown on dissent as authorities moved to contain unrest linked to the regional conflict.
Meanwhile, the report noted that security operations intensified across several parts of Iran following missile exchanges and rising tensions involving Israel and the United States.
An image attached to the report showed emergency responders working at the scene of an Iranian missile strike in Petah Tikva, Israel, on 31 March 2026, highlighting the wider impact of the conflict across the Middle East.
The UN called on Iranian authorities to respect international human rights standards and ensure fair treatment for all detainees.
