Iranian authorities on Wednesday executed a man convicted of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency since 2022.
According to the judiciary’s Mizan Online news website, the convicted, Babak Shahbazi, was hanged on September 17 after his sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court. The court said Shahbazi had confessed to the charges during his trial.
Shahbazi, arrested in May 2022, was legally charged with “corruption on earth” and “waging war against God” — both capital offenses under Iranian law. Officials stated that he had worked on the design and installation of industrial cooling systems for companies linked to military, security, and telecommunication bodies. His access allegedly enabled him to pass sensitive information to Mossad in exchange for money and the promise of residence in a foreign country.
Human rights groups, however, have raised concerns over such cases, arguing that confessions in Iran are often obtained under coercion or torture.
The execution comes amid heightened tensions following the June war between Iran and Israel. Tehran has vowed swift punishment for anyone accused of collaborating with its arch-foe. In August, Iran executed Roozbeh Vadi, an employee of a subsidiary of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, after convicting him of providing Mossad with information about Iranian nuclear scientists and facilities.
In late July, Iran’s intelligence agency also reported the arrest of 20 alleged Mossad spies and operatives across Tehran and several provinces.
Report by: Praise Ekrika | Edited by: Chris Odjomah