Two senior judges of Iran’s supreme court, Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghiseh, were shot dead on Saturday morning in Tehran in what officials are calling a premeditated assassination.
The attack occurred within the supreme court premises when a gunman opened fire, killing both judges and injuring a bodyguard. The assailant reportedly took his own life while attempting to flee the scene, according to the judiciary’s news outlet, Mizan.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear. However, both judges were known for their roles in the Islamic Republic’s crackdown on dissidents since the 1980s. Razini, 71, had previously survived an assassination attempt in 1998, while Moghiseh, 68, had been sanctioned by the EU, the US, and Canada for alleged human rights violations.
The judiciary emphasized that the attacker had no direct connection to cases handled by the supreme court, and authorities are investigating whether other individuals were involved in planning the assassination.
This incident marks a rare act of violence targeting high-ranking judiciary officials in Iran, sparking both domestic and international attention. The judiciary described the killings as an unprecedented attack on the nation’s legal system and vowed to hold those responsible accountable.
Further details are expected as investigations continue.
