Iran executes man convicted over January protests

Iran hanged Mohammad Amini Dehaghani on Wednesday after he was convicted over his role in anti-government protests, the judiciary announced.

The judiciary's press agency reported that Amini Dehaghani was executed after the supreme court confirmed the verdict. It described him as a "collaborator with the enemy". He was found guilty of "moharebeh", meaning war against God in Persian, and "corruption on earth".

State media said Amini Dehaghani had thrown a Molotov cocktail on January 9 outside the governor's office in Dehaghan, set it alight, and destroyed public property as well as the town's police station.

The protests began at the end of December over the cost of living, then spread across Iran and expanded to include political demands. Rights groups say a crackdown killed thousands. Iranian authorities have described the protests as riots backed by the United States and Israel and said the violence killed around 3,000 people. Rights groups abroad put the toll higher and accused security forces of firing at demonstrators.

The source said executions have increased since the Middle East war began on February 28 with action by the United States and Israel against Iran. Amnesty International says Iran carries out the second-highest number of executions in the world, after China.