US urges Iran not to carry out execution of three protesters

The State Department says killings would be 'an affront to human rights'

Protests have swept Iran since September, when Mahsa Amini, 22, died in custody. Reuters

The US on Thursday urged Iran not to execute three people involved in nationwide protests, as campaigners fear authorities could kill the trio at any moment.

State Department spokesman Vedant Patel voiced concern that Iran may soon execute Majid Kazemi, Saleh Mirhashemi and Saeed Yaghoubi, who were arrested in November over protests in the central city of Isfahan.

"We join the people of Iran and the international community in calling on Iran to not carry out these executions," Mr Patel told reporters.

"The execution of these men after what have widely been regarded as sham trials would be an affront to human rights and basic dignity in Iran and everywhere.

"It is clear from this episode that the Iranian regime has learned nothing from the protests that began with another death, the death of Mahsa Amini."

Protests have swept Iran since September, when Ms Amini died in the custody of "modesty police" after her arrest for wearing her hijab "improperly:.

Iran has been increasing the use of the death penalty, including by executing four protesters last year, prompting international condemnation.

Mr Kazemi's case has caused concern in Australia where some of his family live, with his cousin saying that he was involved in "peaceful protests" for change.

Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist and activist, called on US politicians to do more to support the Iranian people and to isolate Tehran.

Ms Alinejad on Wednesday told the International Republican Institute in Washington that crowds were gathering at the Isfahan prison to stop the executions of "three innocent protesters".

Tehran is feeling "more relaxed" about executing protesters, she said, now that the daily protests that rocked Iran last year have abated and media attention has largely moved on.

Protesters in Iran are "trying to protect the rest of the world from one of the most dangerous regimes, which is called [the] Islamic Republic", Ms Alinejad said.