The reported execution of 19-year-old Iranian wrestler Saleh Mohammadi has intensified international concern over Iran’s ongoing massacre on anti-government protests and the treatment of athletes within the country.

Mohammadi, described as a promising young talent and national-level competitor, had represented Iran in international wrestling events, including the 2024 Saitiev Cup in Russia. He was arrested during protests in January and later accused of involvement in an incident on January 8 in which a police officer was killed during clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

During court proceedings, Mohammadi denied all charges, rejecting allegations that he had taken part in any group responsible for the officer’s death. He also stated that his confession had been obtained under torture. According to accounts from those close to him, CCTV footage presented in court did not identify him, and authorities declined to call defense witnesses who could support his alibi that he was at a relative’s home at the time of the incident.

Members of Iran’s wrestling community, including coaches and fellow athletes, have also defended Mohammadi, insisting he had no history of violence or carrying weapons.

His case had already drawn international attention prior to his execution, with United World Wrestling expressing concern. However, no public reaction has been issued by representatives of Iran’s National Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission, including Soraya Aghaei, who was recently appointed to the International Olympic Committee.

Soraya Aghaei and Iran Olympic Committee

The execution has renewed scrutiny of the relationship between International Olympic Committee and Iranian officials. In recent weeks, more than 200 Iranian athletes have published open letters addressed to the IOC, calling for greater accountability. The letters reference senior figures within Iran’s Olympic and Paralympic structures, alleging close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and question the IOC’s continued engagement with these authorities.

Mohammadi’s fate has drawn comparisons to that of Navid Afkari, another Iranian wrestler executed after taking part in protests. Afkari had also retracted his confession in court, stating it was obtained under torture. In an audio message later released from prison, he accused authorities of using executions as a tool of repression.

The case unfolds amid a brutal and unprecedented crackdown by the Iranian regime. Between January 8 and 12, 2026, IRGC forces violently suppressed protests in over 170 cities, killing tens of thousands and detaining hundreds of thousands. Among the victims are athletes, coaches, and referees, underscoring the regime’s systematic targeting of civilians and sports figures to crush dissent.

In response to the crackdown, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the United States would support the Iranian people. Recent military actions carried out by U.S. and Israeli forces have been framed as efforts to protect civilians and stand in support of the Iranian population, receiving backing from many Iranians both inside the country and across the diaspora, while also drawing international attention.