Iran executed 21, arrested over 4,000 since start of war, UN says

Iran executed at least 21 people and arrested more than 4,000 others on national security-related charges since the start of the war with the United States and Israel two months ago, the UN human rights chief said on Wednesday.

In a statement, Volker Turk said at least nine of those executed were linked to protests in January, 10 were accused of membership in opposition groups, and two were executed on espionage charges.

“I am appalled that - on top of the already severe impacts of the conflict - the rights of the Iranian people continue to be stripped from them by the authorities, in harsh and brutal ways,” Turk said.