Three foreign-backed armed rioters convicted of crimes against national security during the January riots in the Iranian city of Karaj have been executed.

The Alborz Judiciary Media Center announced on Sunday the execution of Hassan Divband, Hamid Kazemi, and Reza Zanganeh after they were convicted of participating in operational activities on behalf of Israel, the United States, and hostile groups, as stipulated under the law on intensifying punishment for espionage and cooperation with Israel and hostile countries against national security and national interests.

The executions were carried out in connection with their armed participation in the January 8 and 9 riots.

Divband was the group’s leader and took part in the riots, setting fire to and damaging public property and inciting people and young individuals to destroy public property in Karaj. He was arrested on January 11.

As investigations continued, 10 other rioters who participated in the unrest under his supervision were also identified and arrested.

According to the investigations, the individuals participated in the riots, carrying knives, machetes, and two hunting rifles, along with 150 shotgun cartridges that were later discovered. They also manufactured and used Molotov cocktails and homemade grenades.

The group headed towards public and government facilities, attacked and beat two people whom they believed to be police personnel, and then fled the scene.

At another location, they damaged an electricity substation, cutting off power to parts of the area. They then set fire to garbage bins, blocked roads, and attacked public facilities.

Two men involved in killing 4 security forces during January riots executed in Iran

Two men convicted of involvement in the killing of four security forces during foreign-backed January riots in Iran’s northeastern city of Mashhad have been executed.

Zanganeh played a key role in damaging the electricity substation and cutting off power to several areas of Karaj.

The rioters also confessed to attacking and stabbing other rioters, explaining that they became suspicious of two individuals, stabbed them, and fled the scene.

The unrest in January began as peaceful protests over economic problems. However, on January 8 and 9, rioters disrupted the peaceful demonstrations and attacked police personnel, shop owners, and protesters, resulting in the deaths of several police officers and innocent citizens.

US President Donald Trump admitted in April to arming the rioters, saying, “We sent guns to the protesters, a lot of them.”

As the riots began, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Israel's Heritage Minister, Amichai Eliyahu, said that Mossad agents were present among the rioters.