Iranian authorities executed at least 2,159 people in 2025, according to a new report by Amnesty International, propelling the global number of state executions to its highest level in 44 years. The total of 2,707 executions across 17 countries marks a 78% increase from the previous year, with Iran alone responsible for nearly four out of every five judicial killings. Viewed from Geneva, where the report was compiled, the surge reflects Tehran’s intensifying crackdown during the second half of 2025, particularly after regional hostilities escalated. The figure more than doubles Iran’s already grim tally from 2024, when at least 972 executions were documented.

The same week the Amnesty report was published, the United States Treasury extended for a second time a sanctions waiver allowing the purchase of Russian oil already at sea. The general license, which had been allowed to lapse over the weekend, now runs until June 17. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the move as a temporary measure to provide “flexibility” for vulnerable nations, as the prolonged US-Iran standoff continues to squeeze global crude prices. Analysts in Washington note that the extension reflects a delicate balance between maintaining pressure on Moscow and avoiding further disruption to already tight energy markets, given that the waiver applies strictly to shipments that were at sea before April 17 and excludes transactions involving Iran, North Korea, or Cuba.

India, a major buyer of Russian crude, made clear that its purchasing decisions remain independent of US policy. Sujata Sharma, a joint secretary in the petroleum ministry, stated that New Delhi had been buying Russian oil “before waiver, during waiver, and now also,” emphasising that commercial viability rather than geopolitics drives its energy strategy. The statement came as the US and Iran face stalled peace talks, adding another layer of uncertainty to the global oil outlook. From regional capitals, the convergence of these two stories—Iran’s record on capital punishment and its friction with the United States—underscores the Islamic Republic’s outsized role on the world stage this year.

Looking ahead, Amnesty International said there remain “bright spots” in the fight to abolish the death penalty, noting that countries such as Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia have not carried out executions despite retaining the sentence. Yet the scale of Iran’s repression places a heavy focus on Tehran. Meanwhile, the extension of the Russian oil waiver, while temporary, signals that Washington is prepared to prioritise energy stability even as it confronts Iran over its nuclear programme and human rights record. How long that balance can be maintained, viewed from both the Gulf and the White House, will shape the next phase of the crisis.