'Iran's executions are murders,' former UN prosecutor says | Eye for Iran | EP 114 |

Industrial cranes are meant to build cities. In Iran, they are increasingly being used as gallows. The public hanging of Amirhossein Safari and Abolfazl Sepahi in Isfahan has become a symbol of Iran's escalating execution campaign. As the world focuses on war, Iran is accelerating executions—prompting growing concern among human rights advocates and legal experts. In this episode of Eye for Iran, Professor Payam Akhavan, former UN Prosecutor and Human Rights Chair at Massey College, explains why he believes these are not lawful executions but arbitrary killings that may amount to crimes against humanity under international law. "These are killings. They are murders. There is no legal justification whatsoever for these killings." — Professor Payam Akhavan We then examine President Donald Trump's repeated promise to "finish the job" in Iran. What does that mean in practical terms? Admiral Robert Harward (Ret.), former Deputy Commander of US Central Command, and Blaise Misztal, Vice President of Policy at JINSA, discuss the Strait of Hormuz, Iran's nuclear program and Washington's strategic objectives. "Changing the government in Tehran has to be the ultimate end state." — Admiral Robert Harward (Ret.) "I don't think President Trump would consider this war concluded until steps have been taken to ensure that Iran will not obtain a nuclear weapon." — Blaise Misztal Finally, Alex Vatanka, Senior Fellow at the Middle East Institute, and Nicole Grajewski, Assistant Professor at Sciences Po, analyze Ukraine's unprecedented strike on an Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian Sea and what it reveals about the growing convergence between the wars in Ukraine and Iran. "Perhaps the Iranians are thinking this was the West... using Ukraine as a way of sending a signal." — Alex Vatanka "The clear purpose... was to highlight how involved both Russia and Iran are in their respective wars." — Nicole Grajewski Guests Guests • Professor Payam Akhavan — Former UN Prosecutor; Human Rights Chair, Massey College, University of Toronto • Admiral Robert Harward (Ret.) — Former Deputy Commander, US Central Command • Blaise Misztal — Vice President of Policy, JINSA • Alex Vatanka — Senior Fellow, Middle East Institute • Nicole Grajewski — Assistant Professor, Sciences Po Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 02:04 Segment 1 | Professor Payam Akhavan Former UN Prosecutor | Human Rights Chair, Massey College 02:04 Iran's Public Hangings Return 06:06 Why Is Iran Escalating Executions? 08:00 The Courage of Iran's Protesters 11:00 "These Are Murders," Says Former UN Prosecutor 16:21 Who Could Be Prosecuted? 17:56 Preserving Evidence for Future Trials 21:11 Extermination vs. Genocide 22:57 Responding to Massacre Deniers 28:42 Segment 2 | Admiral Robert Harward & Blaise Misztal Former Deputy Commander, US Central Command | Vice President of Policy, JINSA 28:42 What Does Trump Mean by "Finish the Job"? 31:20 Why Give Iran More Time? 34:11 Does "Finish the Job" Mean Regime Change? 40:33 Military Pressure vs. Iran's Internal Crackdown 45:01 Pickaxe Mountain and Netanyahu 50:51 Can Iran Rebuild? 56:18 What's Next for Iran? 59:19 Boots on the Ground? 01:02:57 Segment 3 | Alex Vatanka & Nicole Grajewski Middle East Institute | Sciences Po 01:02:57 Ukraine Strikes an Iranian Ship 01:03:39 Was the Caspian Strike a Warning? 01:08:33 Is Ukraine Acting as a Proxy? 01:12:28 Will the Caspian Sea Become Militarized? 01:16:08 How Ukraine Changed Iran-Russia Relations 01:20:13 What's Next for Iran, Russia and Ukraine? 01:25:30 Closing Remarks #iran #iranexecutions #humanrights #trump #ukraine #russia #caspian #Iranpodcast #shorts #youtube #irannews