Iran has executed 21, arrested 4,000 since Middle East war began - UN

Since the Middle East war began, Iran has executed at least 21 people and arrested over 4,000, according to the UN's rights office. Among the executions, nine were linked to protests in January 2026, while others involved alleged members of opposition groups. The conditions in Iranian prisons are described as 'dire', with reports of torture and forced disappearances.