A senior Iranian judge was assassinated in a knife attack in the southern city of Shiraz on Tuesday morning, prompting calls for swift justice and a special investigation into what officials have described as a terrorist act.

According to provincial judicial official Sadrollah Rajaee-Nasab, Judge Ehsan Bagheri, who headed Branch 102 of Criminal Court 2 in Shiraz, was killed by two assailants while on his way to work.

Judge Bagheri, 38, had served in Iran’s judiciary for over 12 years. He was attacked with a cold weapon — a term often used in Iran to describe knives or other sharp objects — and succumbed to his injuries shortly after the assault.

“The judge was martyred following the terrorist act this morning,” Rajaee-Nasab said in a statement, adding that a full investigation has been launched to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.

Iranian Judiciary Chief Qolam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei condemned the attack and ordered a special and urgent probe. “Authorities must not delay in bringing those responsible to justice,” he said, stressing that the safety of judicial officials must be ensured.

The motive behind the assassination remains unclear, and no group has claimed responsibility so far. However, the incident has raised concerns over the security of judicial figures, particularly those involved in criminal and sensitive cases.

Security forces in Fars Province are reportedly reviewing CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts in an effort to track down the suspects.