In a rare and shocking act of violence, two senior judges of Iran’s Supreme Court were assassinated in Tehran on Saturday. According to Mizan, the judiciary-affiliated news outlet, the assailant fatally shot the judges before taking his own life. The attack also left a security officer injured.
The victims, Mohammad Moghisheh and Ali Razini, were influential figures in Iran’s judiciary, known for their involvement in high-profile cases relating to terrorism, organized crime, and national security. Their deaths mark a severe breach of security within one of the country’s most guarded institutions.
Mohammad Moghisheh, a controversial figure, faced international scrutiny in 2019 when the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions against him, citing alleged human rights abuses in trials involving political dissidents. Iran consistently denied these accusations, labeling them as politically motivated. Meanwhile, Ali Razini was no stranger to threats; he survived an assassination attempt in 1998 when a magnetic bomb was attached to his car.
While the motive behind Saturday’s attack remains unclear, initial investigations suggest that the gunman had no direct involvement in any cases overseen by the judges. Authorities are exploring whether personal grievances, political motives, or external factors contributed to the attack.
This incident comes amid escalating tensions in Iran, fueled by economic instability and regional challenges. The attack has raised serious concerns about the security of judicial figures, even within the tightly controlled environment of Tehran.
Iran’s judiciary has condemned the killings as a grave affront to the nation’s legal system and vowed to conduct a comprehensive investigation. Officials have also pledged to review and enhance security measures to prevent such breaches in the future. However, the attack has exposed vulnerabilities within Iran’s judicial infrastructure and highlighted the risks faced by high-ranking officials.