Iran executes man for injuring police during protests

Iran executed Shahram Sadeghi on Sunday for running over several police officers with his car during anti-government protests in January. The judiciary's Mizan Online website said Sadeghi had been sentenced to death for carrying out an operational action in support of Israel and the United States.

The incident occurred on January 8 in Karaj, west of Tehran, leaving seven officers wounded. The protest movement that began in late December over the high cost of living escalated into widespread anti-government demonstrations peaking on January 8 and 9.

Iranian authorities reported more than 3,000 deaths, blaming the violence on terrorist acts by the United States and Israel. Rights groups say security forces fired on protesters. Executions in Iran have risen since the West Asia war began on February 28 with U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran. Authorities executed at least 1,639 people last year, a record since 1989, according to Iran Human Rights and Together Against the Death Penalty.