Two senior judges, Ali Razini and Mohammad Moghisseh, were killed in a brazen shooting at the supreme court building in Tehran on Saturday. According to Iranian state media, the attack shocked the nation and prompted swift reactions from officials. President Masoud Pezeshkian extended his condolences and urged authorities to take quick action to investigate the incident.
The incident, which resulted in one other person being wounded, unfolded when a person armed with a handgun entered the judges' room. The judiciary spokesperson, Asghar Jahangir, confirmed that the assailant executed a planned assassination. Mizan Online reported that the attacker targeted the judges for their roles in handling sensitive cases related to national security, espionage, and terrorism.
“This morning, a gunman infiltrated the supreme court in a planned act of assassination of two brave and experienced judges. The two judges were martyred in the act,” – Mizan Online website
The motive behind the killings remains unclear, but the assailant reportedly had no direct involvement in any cases before the supreme court. Following the attack, the gunman took his own life after what has been labeled a "terrorist" act by Mizan.
“a person armed with a handgun entered the room” – Asghar Jahangir
Ali Razini, 71, was no stranger to danger, having survived a previous assassination attempt in 1998 when a magnetic bomb was placed on his vehicle. He held several key positions within Iran's judiciary. Mohammad Moghisseh, 68, was sanctioned by the United States in 2019 for his connections to the Iranian government.
“who planted a magnetic bomb in his vehicle” – Mizan
Such attacks on judicial figures are infrequent in Iran but not unprecedented. The country has witnessed a series of high-profile shootings in recent years. In April 2023, a prominent cleric was gunned down at a bank in Mazandaran province, and later that year, a Shiite preacher was killed in Kazerun.
President Pezeshkian has called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the assassinations.
“I strongly urge the security and law enforcement forces to take the necessary measures as soon as possible by examining the dimensions and angles of this reprehensible act and to identify its perpetrators.” – President Masoud Pezeshkian