A top Iranian judge has seemingly snubbed Donald Trump’s warning against carrying out executions of protesters, as he said: “If we want to do a job, we should do it now.” His remarks came as he signalled that fast-track trials and executions were looming for those detained in nationwide protests, despite Trump’s warning of “very strong action”.
Mohseni-Ejei is Iran’s powerful judiciary chief and hardline cleric who oversees the country’s courts and death penalty system. He is a close ally of Iran’s supreme leadership and has previously held senior roles within the country’s intelligence and judicial systems.
He made the remarks on Wednesday in a video shared by Iranian state media, insisting swift punishment was needed to have an “effect” as the unrest continues to grip the country.
His comments came just months after US forces bombed Iranian nuclear sites during a brief but intense conflict sparked by Israel, heightening fears the crisis could spiral further if executions are carried out.
Against this backdrop of heightened tensions, Mohseni-Ejei doubled down on the need for speed, saying: “If it becomes late, two months, three months later, it doesn’t have the same effect. If we want to do something, we have to do that fast.”
He warned that delays would blunt the impact of punishments, reinforcing calls for rapid trials and sentences.
International news agency Agence France-Presse reported that Mohseni-Ejei also made similar remarks during a visit to a prison holding protest detainees, where he argued those accused of serious acts of violence should face swift punishment.
Iranian news agencies reported he spent several hours at a Tehran prison reviewing cases and called for trials to be held “in public”.
Activists have warned that hangings could be carried out within days, as Iran’s bloody crackdown on the demonstrations has reportedly killed at least 2,571 people. The figure, reported by the Human Rights Activists News Agency, would mark the deadliest unrest in Iran in decades and has sparked fresh international alarm.
A mass funeral is due to take place in Tehran on Wednesday for hundreds of security force members and civilians killed in the unrest, with the ceremony set to be held under heavy security.