07/05/2026
Share:
07/05/2026
Share:
TEHRAN, May 7: A law approved in Iran last October has accelerated death penalty proceedings by granting judges broad authority to interpret espionage and treason cases, the Financial Times reported on Thursday, citing Iranian human rights lawyer Amir Raesian.
Raesian said the legislation uses vague wording that gives courts wide discretion in capital cases.
“Terms in the new law, such as ‘any operational acts’, give judges an almost unlimited scope for interpretation, allowing them to issue death sentences without restriction,” he was quoted as saying.
He added that the law has led to harsher verdicts and faster judicial proceedings.
“As a result, verdicts have become much harsher and proceedings much faster, making executions swift and straightforward,” Raesian said.
The reported acceleration in executions comes amid heightened international scrutiny of Iran’s judicial system and human rights record, particularly in cases involving accusations of espionage, treason, and threats to national security.
Separately, former White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow criticized emerging diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran, arguing that long-term stability would require sustained pressure on Tehran and a move toward regime change rather than reliance on a negotiated agreement.
Speaking on Fox News, Kudlow referred to recent reports of preliminary US–Iran discussions and said he was skeptical that any deal with Tehran could be trusted or effectively enforced. He argued that a pressure-based approach would be more effective in addressing security concerns linked to Iran.
