Several Citizens Arrested by Intelligence Ministry Forces in Ardabil

HRANA – In recent days, several citizens were arrested by Ministry of Intelligence over what has been described as “cooperation with foreign-based media outlets.” At the same time, a video containing the forced confessions of three of these individuals has been published, although the circumstances under which the footage was recorded remain unclear.

According to a report by IRIB News Agency, several citizens have been arrested in Ardabil. Based on the report, these citizens were detained in recent days by Intelligence Department forces on charges of “cooperation with foreign-based media outlets.”

Simultaneously, a video showing the forced confessions of three of these individuals was released, though the conditions under which the confessions were recorded are unknown.

The report does not mention the exact number of those arrested, their identities, or where they are being held.

Day 37 of U.S. and Israeli Attacks on Iran: From Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad to Ardabil

HRANA– In the last 24 hours, and as of April 5, 2026, at 17:00 ET, HRANA has recorded at least 168 attacks across 83 incidents in 11 provinces, resulting in a total of at least 7 casualties (killed and injured, both civilian and military). Renewed attacks on petrochemical complexes in the Mahshahr region, as well as heavy clashes in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, were among the developments that drew the attention of the media and public opinion.

According to information recorded and verified by HRANA, from the first minutes of the day through the end of April 5, 2026 (Tehran time), at least six civilians were killed and one other person was injured.

Aggregated data since the beginning of the conflict on February 28, 2026, based on incidents recorded in the incident tab and using minimum values for figures marked “more than”:

• Civilian fatalities: 1,616 people (including at least 244 children)

• Military fatalities: 1,219 people

• Unclassified fatalities (civilian/military): 711 people

Note on official statements: Alongside HRANA’s independent reporting, several official aggregate figures were also recorded today from state media, including:

The head of the Ministry of Education’s Center for Information and Public Relations said: “The number of student martyrs in the Third Imposed War has reached 243.” He added: “In the enemy’s brutal attacks, 58 teachers and education staff members were also killed.” Sadeghi said that “over the past 36 days, 178 students and 24 teachers have also been injured.”

Jalal Maleki, spokesperson for the Tehran Fire Department, said: “Over the past 36 to 37 days, we have managed to rescue 410 people alive from beneath the rubble.”

Figures released by the Lorestan Operations Control and Coordination Center indicate that “2,739 people were injured during this period. The Red Crescent played a direct role in providing aid to 855 people. Ten technical rescue operations were also recorded. On the tragic side of these incidents, 142 people in Lorestan were killed as a result of Zionist and American attacks. The Red Crescent also participated in the transfer of 41 bodies.”

Since these figures are presented in aggregate form and cannot be precisely matched to specific incidents, they have not been included in the event-based calculations used in HRANA’s independent reporting section of this review. They are mentioned here solely as a record of official statements.

1. Overview of Incidents in the Last 24 Hours

In the last 24 hours, incidents were reported across multiple provinces, reflecting a geographically dispersed pattern of hostilities. In a large portion of the incidents, the method/type of attack has not yet been confirmed and has been recorded as “undetermined.” In cases where the attack type was identifiable, airstrikes and drone attacks were reported.

Preliminary analysis indicates that Isfahan Province, accounting for 40 percent, tops the list of provinces that have been targeted. Khuzestan Province, with a 19 percent share, ranks second, while Tehran Province, at 16 percent, places third. The list is followed, respectively, by Bushehr, Hormozgan, and Fars provinces.

2. List of Objects Reported Hit

In the past 24 hours, the recorded attacks have damaged 15 distinct objects or facilities. These include a range of different types of targets. In some cases, damage caused by nearby strikes or secondary consequences of the attacks has also been reported.

Examples of targets recorded over the past 24 hours:

• IRGC base in Sartel (Bushehr)

• Naval Forces base (Bushehr)

• Military barracks (Shiraz)

• Air Force base (Shiraz)

• International airport (Ahvaz)

For a number of the listed targets, the exact nature of the target (civilian/military/dual-use) is still under review, and classifications may be revised as additional information becomes available.

Facilities Protected Under International Humanitarian Law:

Under international humanitarian law, medical facilities, educational institutions, humanitarian facilities, religious sites, and emergency service centers are among the many objects that maintain special protected status and are afforded special protection. In the past 24 hours, HRANA has preliminarily recorded the following cases:

• Boys’ high school (Mobarakeh)

• Petrochemical complex (Mahshahr)

• Gas station (Bandar Kong)

• Road Maintenance Department (Borujerd)

• Sadra Marine Industries (Bushehr)

 3. Civilian Casualties

During the period covered by this report, no reports of civilian casualties were received. All classifications are preliminary and may be updated if new information becomes available.

4. Military Casualties

During the period covered by this report, six military personnel were killed and one other individual was injured. Military casualties are generally reported in the context of attacks on Army and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) bases. Where possible, organizational affiliation and operational context are being assessed; however, not all details have yet been independently verified.

In some incidents, individuals have been killed in the vicinity of military targets; however, their official status has not yet been definitively determined. These cases remain under review, and if reliable information indicating a different status becomes available, the classification may be revised accordingly.

It is believed that military casualties are significantly higher than the figures reported in these reports. However, due to the sensitive nature of military information and the limited access of human rights groups and media to locations where military forces are present, this section largely reflects reports of senior officers or military personnel who were present in urban areas.

5. Confirmed but Unspecified Casualties

Burials: Today, 15 burial cases resulting from attacks in previous days were recorded.

A Note on HRANA Methodology

Note that, in line with HRANA policy, this report reflects only incidents that occurred within the territorial borders of Iran.

The information contained in this report is compiled through HRANA’s established documentation network. Data is collected from a combination of field reports, local contacts, medical and emergency sources, civil society networks, and open source materials, including publicly available images, videos, and official statements where relevant. Each reported incident is logged and assessed through an internal review process before publication.

Given the evolving nature of hostilities, information is gathered on a rolling basis and reflects the status of documentation at the time of publication.

The figures presented in this report may not reflect the full scope of harm. Ongoing hostilities, damage to infrastructure, communication disruptions, restricted access to affected areas, and security risks for sources may limit the ability to document incidents comprehensively.

Delays in medical reporting, difficulties in confirming identities, and restricted access to certain provinces may result in temporary undercounting. As access improves or additional evidence emerges, casualty figures and incident classifications may be revised accordingly.

HRANA remains committed to transparency, methodological rigor, and the continual updating of its findings as new verified information becomes available.

At Least 103 Citizens Arrested in Various Cities

HRANA  – Official media outlets have reported the arrest of one individual in Bandar Anzali, 100 citizens in Ardabil, and two individuals in Masjed Soleyman in connection with protests.

Based on this report, the arrests were carried out in connection with the protests by the IRGC Intelligence of Ardabil Province.

In another report, this media outlet, quoting the police commander of Bandar Anzali County, announced that one protester was arrested in the city. The individual was accused of involvement in the destruction of one of the chain stores and the courthouse building during recent protests in the county.

Additionally, Young Journalists Club reported the arrest of two individuals in Masjed Soleyman. According to this report, the detainees were accused of carrying out sabotage activities. It was also claimed that explosive materials and a firearm were discovered and confiscated from them.

These reports did not provide any information regarding the identities of the individuals or their place of detention.

It should be noted that gatherings and strikes by shopkeepers and bazaar merchants began in Tehran on December 28, 2022, and after two days spread beyond bazaars and commercial centers. With the participation of students, citizens, and various social groups, these protests became among the most widespread in recent years. Following the crackdown by law-enforcement and security forces, thousands were killed or injured, and tens of thousands were arrested or summoned by security bodies. For more information, readers can refer to HRANA’s detailed report published last night on the forty-fourth day since the start of the protests.

Twenty Prisoners Executed on Murder and Drug-Related Charges

HRANA- Over the course of today and yesterday, at least twenty prisoners were executed in various prisons across Iran on charges related to murder and drug-related offenses.

The names of those executed yesterday are as follows:

On murder charges:

  • • Khaled Hosseini – Nowshahr Prison

  • • Mehdi Jafarian – Ardabil Prison

  • • Abbas Khordbin – Semnan Prison

  • • Shah Mirza Ghaedrahmati – Borujerd Prison

On drug-related charges:

  • • Rahman Najafi – Arak Prison

  • • Nezam Tajik, an Afghan national – Bandar Abbas Prison

  • • Younes Bagheri – Tabriz Prison

  • • Parsa Taghizadeh – Qazvin Prison

  • • Danial Abdi – Qom Prison

  • • Hamid Kariyabi – Naein Prison

Today, February 9, the death sentences of ten additional prisoners were carried out in various prisons:

On murder charges:

  • • Shayan Tojihi – Qaemshahr Prison

  • • Rouzbeh Amanatdoust – Quchan Prison

  • • Mohammad Zalitabar – Gorgan Prison

  • • Abedin Ahmadi – Neyshabur Prison

  • • Mohsen Rezaei – Dorud Prison

  • • Karim Javadi – Zanjan Prison

  • • Shahla Dowlatabadi – Kerman Prison

  • • Hooshang Shokouhi – Saveh Prison

On drug-related charges:

  • • Keyvan Akbari – Isfahan Prison

  • • Seyed Ali Kalami – Kashan Prison

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

According to HRANA’s annual report, in 2025, at least 2,063 people were executed in Iran. Based on this data, the implementation of death sentences has increased by 119% compared to 2024. In many of these executions, due to secrecy, prisoners were denied even a final visit with their families.

Report on the Execution of at Least 26 Prisoners on Murder and Drug-Related Charges

HRANA – At least 26 prisoners were executed in the prisons of Arak, Naein, Tabriz, Bandar Abbas, Qazvin, Ardabil, Qom, Semnan, Borujerd, Sanandaj, Nowshahr, Lahijan, and Qaemshahr. These prisoners had previously been sentenced to death on charges related to drug-related offenses and murder.

The identities of the prisoners have been confirmed by HRANA as: Shahriar Farahani, Manoochehr Mehrabi, Nasser Hosseini, Behrouz Hazrati, Fardin Kalami, Mohammadali Moridan, Amin Nasiri, Sajjad Dousti, Peyman Shiri, Hekmat Daryaei, Mostafa Minavand, Shahab Karami, Nemat Mehraban, Azim Nourzad, Noushad Alipour, Shahrouz Hosseini, Yousef Eini, Meysam Rafiei, Jaber Mohammadi, Payam Nouri, Omid Hatami, Samir Ajamloo, Iman Nejati, Ghorban Rashidi, Kourosh Zamani, and Kianoush Rostami.

Based on information received by HRANA, today, Sunday, February 1, Shahriar Farahani was executed in Arak Prison, Manoochehr Mehrabi in Naein Prison, Nasser Hosseini in Qazvin Prison, Behrouz Hazrati in Ardabil Prison, Fardin Kalami in Qom Prison, Mohammadali Moridan in Borujerd Prison, Amin Nasiri in Sanandaj Prison, and Sajjad Dousti in Nowshahr Prison on murder charges.

Additionally, Peyman Shiri in Tabriz Prison, Hekmat Daryaei in Bandar Abbas Prison, and Mostafa Minavand in Semnan Prison were hanged on charges related to drug-related crimes.

Additionally, HRANA has received reports of executions carried out in recent months. From October to December of 2025, at least eight prisoners were executed in Qaemshahr Prison. Shahab Karami on October 6, Nemat Mehraban on October 20, Azim Nourzad on November 17, Noushad Alipour on December 1, and Shahrouz Hosseini on January 12 were executed on murder charges. Furthermore, Yousef Eini on November 2, Meysam Rafiei on December 15, and Jaber Mohammadi on December 29 were executed on charges related to drug-related offenses.

The death sentences of at least seven other prisoners were also carried out in Lahijan Prison. Ghorban Rashidi on  December 3, Kourosh Zamani on December 15, and Kianoush Rostami on December 31 were executed on charges related to drug-related crimes. Payam Nouri on October 29, Omid Hatami on November 12, Samir Ajamloo on November 19, and Iman Nejati on December 17 were sentenced to death and executed on murder charges.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

According to HRA’s annual report, at least 2,063 people were executed in Iran. Based on this report, the implementation of death sentences increased by 119% compared to 2024. In many of these executions, due to secrecy, prisoners were even deprived of the right to a final visit with their families.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Now is definitely not the time to stop reading!

19 Prisoners Executed in Multiple Prisons

HRANA – On Sunday, January 4, the death sentences of 16 prisoners, previously convicted on charges related to drug offenses and murder, were carried out in various prisons across Iran. Additionally, on January 3, the death sentences of three prisoners convicted of murder and moharebeh (enmity against God) through armed robbery were carried out in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz.

The identities of the 16 prisoners executed at dawn on Sunday, January 4, have been confirmed by HRANA as follows:

  • • Aydin Salavati, executed on drug-related charges in Tabriz Prison

  • • Ebrahim Bazvand, executed on murder charges in Tabriz Prison

  • • Nima (last name unknown), executed in Bandar Abbas Prison

  • • Saeed Rostami, executed in Qazvin Prison

  • • Amin Elahi, executed on murder charges in Qom Prison

  • • Arman Nazari, executed on drug-related charges in Semnan Prison

  • • Vali Karambeigi, executed on murder charges in Borujerd Prison

  • • Sajad Golmohammadi, executed on murder charges in Ardabil Prison

  • • Kazem Sourian, executed on murder charges in Khorramabad Prison

  • • Soroush Khani, executed on murder charges in Karaj Penitentiary

  • • Mohsen Qaedrahmat, executed on murder charges in Aligudarz Prison

  • • Shakaram Masti, executed on murder charges in Kermanshah Prison

  • • Hamid Reza Moradi, executed on murder charges in Dezful Prison

  • • Asghar Babaei, executed on drug-related charges in Hamedan Prison

  • • Noureddin Eidizadeh, executed on murder charges in Nahavand Prison

  • • Ahmad Saki, executed on drug-related charges in Nahavand Prison

Additionally, three prisoners were executed on January 3 in Adelabad Prison in Shiraz. The identities of two of them have been confirmed by HRANA as Asghar Shahi and Khalil Rahmani. Mr. Rahmani had been arrested and sentenced to death on charges of murder, while Mr. Shahi and the third prisoner had been sentenced to death on charges of moharebeh through armed robbery.

As of the time of this report, the executions have not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant state institutions.

According to the annual report on the state of human rights in Iran, published by the Statistics, Publications, and Documentation Unit of the Human Rights Activists in Iran, at least 2,063 people were executed in Iran during the one-year period from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. Based on this report, the number of executions more than doubled compared to 2024. In many cases, due to secrecy surrounding executions, prisoners were denied the right to a final visit with their families.

At Least 17 Prisoners Executed in Iranian Prisons Over Two Days

HRANA – Over the past two days, HRANA has reported the execution of 17 prisoners in various prisons across Iran. This report provides details of these executions:

Saturday, December 20:

On this day, HRANA reported the executions of the following individuals:

Yashar Tehrani Moghadam, on a charge of murder, at Karaj Central Prison
Kian Papi, on a charge of murder, at Aligudarz Prison
Behzad Hosseini Rad, on a charge of murder, at Kermanshah Prison
Yarhossein Hassanvand, on a charge of murder, at Khorramabad Prison
Mohammad Javad Kalani, on a charge of murder, at Nahavand Prison
Hessam Nouzari, on a charge of murder, at Ardabil Prison
Moslem Salimi, on drug-related charges, at Hamedan Prison
One prisoner of unknown identity, on a charge of murder, at Dezful Prison

Sunday, December 21:

Fariborz Ghasemi, on a charge of murder, at Yasuj Prison
Reza Dastar, on drug-related charges, at Bandar Abbas Prison
Kazem Sourian, on a charge of murder, at Qom Prison
Vahid Pazouki, on drug-related charges, at Semnan Prison
Ali Mohammad Koushki, on a charge of murder, at Borujerd Prison
Amir Mohammad Jadidi, on a charge of murder, at Qazvin Prison
Fardin Khani, on a charge of murder, at Arak Prison

The death sentences of two other prisoners were also carried out on murder charges at Tabriz Prison. The identity of one of them has been confirmed by HRANA as Ebrahim Mashayekhi.

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been officially announced by prison authorities or relevant institutions.

From the beginning of this year until the end of November, 2025, the Iranian regime has executed 1,594 people, marking an unprecedented increase compared to previous years.

29 Prisoners Executed in Multiple Prisons Across Iran

HRANA – In recent days, the death sentences of dozens of other prisoners have been carried out in various prisons across Iran on charges of murder and drug-related offenses. This report details these executions:

Monday, December 8:

Esfandiar Razaqi, on a charge of murder, in Esfarayen Prison
Sattar Zahedifar, on drug-related charges, in Gonabad Prison

The Iran Human Rights Organization also reported the execution of four prisoners on drug-related charges in Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan. In addition to the execution of Mohammadbaqer Souri, which HRANA had previously reported, three other prisoners—identified as Shahram Mirzadeh, Fardin Rezaei (37 years old), and Habib Faridi (approximately 30 years old)—were hanged in this prison.

Tuesday, December 9:

Mojtaba Dabir, on a charge of murder, in Nowshahr Prison, Mazandaran Province
Majid Nazaran, on a charge of murder, in Quchan Prison, Razavi Khorasan Province
Diako Farouqi, on a charge of murder, in Sanandaj Prison, Kurdistan Province

Saturday, December 13:

Gholam Saljouqi, on drug-related charges, in Hamedan Prison, Hamedan Province
Farshid Sagvand, on a charge of murder, in Aligudarz Prison, Lorestan Province
Kaka Morad Jafari, on a charge of murder, in Khorramabad Prison, Lorestan Province
Two prisoners on charges of murder in Kermanshah Prison; HRANA has confirmed the identity of one of them as Aziz Ali Moradi
Hassan Torki, on a charge of murder, in Yasuj Prison
Golmohammadi (first name unknown), on a charge of murder, in Nahavand Prison
Hamzeh Sarlak, on a charge of murder, in Dezful Prison, Khuzestan Province

Sunday, December 14:

Sadegh Abdi, on a charge of murder, in Qazvin Prison
Abolfazl Dana, on a charge of murder, in Ardabil Prison
Ali Eitivand, Kiumars Bahrami, Ehsan Yari, and Mohammad Karimi, on drug-related charges, in the Central Prison of Karaj, Alborz Province
Sultan Morad Aslanpour, on drug-related charges, in Tabriz Prison
Yaser Saki Zadeh, on drug-related charges, in Qom Prison
Mohammad Amin Bakhtiari, on drug-related charges, in Semnan Prison
Mohammad Dinari, on drug-related charges, in Arak Prison, Markazi Province
Farhad Abdouli, on a charge of murder, in Dezful Prison

Additionally, a prisoner with an unknown identity was executed on a charge of murder in Borujerd Prison

As of the time of this report, the executions of these prisoners have not been officially announced by prison authorities or the relevant institutions.

Journalist Meysam Rashidi Arrested in Ardabil

HRANA – Meysam Rashidi, a journalist based in Ardabil, was arrested by local police following a complaint from the city’s mayor and the issuance of a temporary detention order.

According to HRANA, the arrest was carried out after Rashidi published critical content on social media about the municipality’s performance, prompting the mayor to file a legal complaint. The charges against him and his current place of detention remain unknown.

Earlier this year in March, Rashidi was reportedly assaulted by Ardabil municipality’s security personnel after he criticized the poor condition of the city’s municipal football team—an allegation the mayor later denied.

Rashidi has previously collaborated with the news outlet Qaartaal.

Arbitrary arrests, transferring detainees to undisclosed locations, and leaving families in the dark about the fate of their loved ones are routine practices of the Iranian regime’s security agencies, such as the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence Unit. This pattern of behavior stands in clear violation of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, known as the Nelson Mandela Rules

Arrest of 24 Citizens in Ardabil for Alleged Disturbing Public Opinion on Social Media

HRANA– The police commander of Ardabil has announced the arrest of 24 citizens for what he described as “disturbing public opinion on social media.” According to him, judicial cases have been opened for these individuals.

According to Tasnim News Agency, the Ardabil police commander referred to them as “agents of disturbing public opinion on social media,” claiming they had spread “rumors and false news” with the intention of “creating psychological insecurity in society.”

Without disclosing their identities, he added that judicial cases have been filed against all of them.

The report did not provide further details regarding the detainees’ current status or place of detention.

Since the twelve-day war between Israel and Iran, the Iranian regime has arrested hundreds of individuals for expressing opinions and sharing content related to the war and the country’s situation.