Two senior judges of Iran’s Supreme Court, Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghiseh, were assassinated on Saturday morning in Tehran. The attack occurred when an armed man entered the court premises and opened fire, injuring a bodyguard before reportedly killing himself while attempting to flee.
The judiciary’s official news platform, Mizan, described the incident as a premeditated assassination. The motive for the attack remains unclear, though both judges had controversial histories tied to the persecution and execution of dissidents during the 1980s and 1990s under Iran’s Islamic regime.
Ali Razini, a prominent judicial figure, had previously survived an assassination attempt in 1998. Known for his long-standing role in Iran’s judiciary, Razini was a key player in overseeing high-profile and often contentious cases. Mohammad Moghiseh, on the other hand, had a history marked by international sanctions. In 2019, the United States Treasury Department sanctioned him, citing his involvement in overseeing numerous unfair trials, where evidence was disregarded, and charges were often unsubstantiated. Moghiseh was also among seven judges sanctioned by Canada in 2023 for their roles in systemic human rights violations.
The judiciary’s spokesman, Asghar Jahangir, revealed that the attacker entered the court armed with a handgun. Initial investigations suggest the assailant was not connected to any case adjudicated by the Supreme Court, and authorities are actively probing whether additional individuals were involved in orchestrating the attack.
International observers and human rights groups have speculated that the assassinations could be tied to the judges’ controversial legacies, particularly their roles in suppressing opposition to the regime. However, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the killings so far.
The Iranian judiciary has condemned the attack, describing it as an act of calculated violence. The judiciary’s media office stated, “This assassination aims to destabilize our judicial system and intimidate those at the forefront of safeguarding our nation’s laws.”
The deaths of Razini and Moghiseh underscore the volatile and politically charged climate in Iran, where tensions between the government and its critics remain high. The incident has drawn international attention, with many calling for transparency and accountability in the investigation.
As the probe continues, the attack raises critical questions about the safety of judicial officials and the broader implications for Iran’s political and judicial systems.
