Saudi Arabia Executes Six Iranians: A Crackdown on Drug Trafficking

The International Repercussions of Saudi Arabia Executing Iranians for Drugs

On January 1, 2025, Saudi Arabia executed six Iranian nationals convicted of drug smuggling. The Saudi Interior Ministry stated that these individuals were caught smuggling hashish into the kingdom and were executed after the Supreme Court upheld their convictions.

In response, Iran summoned the Saudi ambassador in Tehran to protest the executions, expressing that they contradicted the general trend of judicial cooperation and were carried out without prior notification to Iran.

These executions come at a time when Saudi Arabia has intensified its campaign against drug smuggling and abuse, reinstating executions for drug-related crimes after a brief moratorium.