Two Iranian Supreme Court judges, known for handling espionage and terrorism cases, were shot dead inside a Tehran courthouse on Saturday. The attacker, who wounded a bodyguard before taking his own life, has yet to be publicly identified, according to the judiciary.
The victims, mid-ranking Shia clerics Mohammad Moghiseh and Ali Razini, were prominent figures in national security trials. Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir stated the killings could be linked to their roles in uncovering espionage and terrorist networks.
“In the last year, our judiciary has intensified efforts to expose spies and disrupt terrorist cells, drawing the ire of our enemies,” Jahangir told state television.
State media reported the judges’ cases often involved individuals with alleged ties to Israel and U.S.-backed Iranian opposition groups, though further details were not disclosed. Opposition websites previously linked Judge Moghiseh to trials of political prisoners, while Judge Razini had survived an earlier assassination attempt in 1998.
The attack underscores the growing risks faced by Iranian judicial officials amidst heightened tensions with foreign powers and dissident factions.
This assassination is under investigation as authorities work to determine the assailant’s motives.
