Iran Judiciary Urges Courts to ‘Speed Up’ Execution Verdicts

Iran's hardline judiciary chief on Tuesday urged courts to speed up verdicts linked to the US-Israeli war, including capital punishment, as activists sounded the alarm about surging hangings of convicts seen as political prisoners. Since the war began on February 28, Iran has hanged seven people in connection with January protests, six convicted of membership of banned opposition group the People's Mujahedin of Iran (MEK) and a dual Iranian-Swedish citizen on charges of spying for Israel. Rights groups have warned dozens more are at risk of execution over the January protests or after being arrested on suspicion of helping the...