Two men accused of plotting to overthrow the regime were hanged in Tehran yesterday. Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour, 19, were convicted of being ‘enemies of God’.

The pair were the first to be put to death after more than 100 dissidents were put on trial following protests disputing President Ahmadinejad’s re-election. They were among 11 people sentenced to death for their alleged involvement in the post-election violence.

The executions have increased fears for bloggers Mehrdad Rahimi and  Kouhyar Goudarzi, convicted of wanting to wage ‘a war against God’. The men were contributors to an opposition website.