Two judges shot dead in Iran’s supreme court building, state media say
Two judges were shot dead in a targeted attack at Iran’s Supreme Court building in Tehran on January 18, 2025. The assailant, who subsequently committed suicide, entered the judges’ chamber and opened fire, fatally wounding Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghiseh, both prominent figures in the Iranian judiciary known for their roles in national security and terrorism cases. A bodyguard of one of the judges was also injured during the incident.
The Iranian judiciary has labeled the shooting as a terrorist act. Initial investigations suggest that the shooter had no prior cases with the Supreme Court and was not a visitor there, raising questions about his motives. The attack has drawn condemnation from Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, who described it as a “terrorist and cowardly” act.
Both judges had controversial backgrounds; Moghiseh faced U.S. sanctions in 2019 for presiding over unfair trials, while Razini survived an assassination attempt in 1998. The incident marks a rare attack on high-profile judicial figures in Iran, amidst ongoing tensions and violence targeting officials in recent years.
