'Iran's executions are murders,' former UN prosecutor says | Eye for Iran | EP 114 |

Industrial cranes are meant to build cities. In Iran, they are increasingly being used as gallows.

The public hanging of Amirhossein Safari and Abolfazl Sepahi in Isfahan has become a symbol of Iran's escalating execution campaign.

As the world focuses on war, Iran is accelerating executions—prompting growing concern among human rights advocates and legal experts.

In this episode of Eye for Iran, Professor Payam Akhavan, former UN Prosecutor and Human Rights Chair at Massey College, explains why he believes these are not lawful executions but arbitrary killings that may amount to crimes against humanity under international law.

"These are killings. They are murders. There is no legal justification whatsoever for these killings." — Professor Payam Akhavan

We then examine President Donald Trump's repeated promise to "finish the job" in Iran. What does that mean in practical terms? Admiral Robert Harward (Ret.), former Deputy Commander of US Central Command, and Blaise Misztal, Vice President of Policy at JINSA, discuss the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's nuclear program and Washington's strategic objectives.

"Changing the government in Tehran has to be the ultimate end state." — Admiral Robert Harward (Ret.)

"I don't think President Trump would consider this war concluded until steps have been taken to ensure that Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon." — Blaise Misztal

Finally, Alex Vatanka, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, and Nicole Grajewski, Assistant Professor at Sciences Po, analyze Ukraine's unprecedented strike on an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea and what it reveals about the growing convergence between the wars in Ukraine and Iran.

"Perhaps the Iranians are thinking this was the West... using Ukraine as a way of sending a signal." — Alex Vatanka

"The clear purpose... was to highlight how involved both Russia and Iran are in their respective wars." — Nicole Grajewski

Guests

Guests

• Professor Payam Akhavan — Former UN Prosecutor; Human Rights Chair, Massey College, University of Toronto

• Admiral Robert Harward (Ret.) — Former Deputy Commander, US Central Command

• Blaise Misztal — Vice President of Policy, JINSA

• Alex Vatanka — Senior Fellow, Middle East Institute

• Nicole Grajewski — Assistant Professor, Sciences Po

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

02:04 Segment 1 | Professor Payam Akhavan
Former UN Prosecutor | Human Rights Chair, Massey College

02:04 Iran's Public Hangings Return
06:06 Why Is Iran Escalating Executions?
08:00 The Courage of Iran's Protesters
11:00 "These Are Murders," Says Former UN Prosecutor
16:21 Who Could Be Prosecuted?
17:56 Preserving Evidence for Future Trials
21:11 Extermination vs. Genocide
22:57 Responding to Massacre Deniers

28:42 Segment 2 | Admiral Robert Harward & Blaise Misztal
Former Deputy Commander, US Central Command | Vice President of Policy, JINSA

28:42 What Does Trump Mean by "Finish the Job"?
31:20 Why Give Iran More Time?
34:11 Does "Finish the Job" Mean Regime Change?
40:33 Military Pressure vs. Iran's Internal Crackdown
45:01 Pickaxe Mountain and Netanyahu
50:51 Can Iran Rebuild?
56:18 What's Next for Iran?
59:19 Boots on the Ground?

01:02:57 Segment 3 | Alex Vatanka & Nicole Grajewski
Middle East Institute | Sciences Po

01:02:57 Ukraine Strikes an Iranian Ship
01:03:39 Was the Caspian Strike a Warning?
01:08:33 Is Ukraine Acting as a Proxy?
01:12:28 Will the Caspian Sea Become Militarized?
01:16:08 How Ukraine Changed Iran-Russia Relations
01:20:13 What's Next for Iran, Russia and Ukraine?

01:25:30 Closing Remarks

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