Iran’s execution surge alarms U.N.

BERLIN — The U.N.’s special investigator on Iran said the human-rights situation in the country has deteriorated since Hassan Rouhani became president in 2013.

Ahmed Shaheed said that “in my view, the overall situation has worsened, as indicated by the surge in executions.”

Shaheed told reporters in Geneva on Monday that 753 death sentences were carried out in Iran last year, compared with 580 in 2012.

He lamented that Iran executes more people per capita than any other nation.

Shaheed said Iran has also introduced a number of laws putting pressure on dissidents, rights activists and journalists.

The U.N. expert said he hopes a resolution of its nuclear dispute with the West will improve the human-rights situation, too.