Iranian authorities have carried out the execution of a man convicted of espionage on behalf of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, the judiciary announced on Wednesday, amid a surge in such cases following heightened tensions between the two longstanding adversaries.
The Iranian judiciary’s official media outlet, Mizan, reported that Hamidreza Sabet Esmaeilipour (also spelled Hamidreza Sabet Esmailpour in some accounts) was hanged after his death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court. He was arrested on April 29, 2025, and convicted of “espionage and intelligence cooperation in favour of a hostile intelligence service (Mossad)” by transferring classified documents and sensitive information through covert online communications.
According to Mizan, investigators uncovered evidence that Esmaeilipour sent documents directly to an officer linked to Israel, purchased equipment for an alleged intelligence officer, and transported vehicles across provinces including Isfahan and Lorestan as part of operational activities. Authorities described the case as a “major operation” neutralized by the Intelligence Ministry, emphasizing that the execution followed full legal procedures.
This latest hanging marks the most recent in a wave of executions on espionage charges since a direct 12-day confrontation in June 2025 between Iran, Israel, and the United States. That conflict involved Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, ballistic missile sites, and the targeted killings of senior military commanders and nuclear scientists, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. In response, Iran has intensified internal crackdowns, detaining hundreds and executing at least a dozen individuals accused of collaborating with Mossad often involving allegations of sharing photos, videos, or intelligence on sensitive locations in exchange for cryptocurrency payments or other incentives.
Earlier cases this year include the January 7 execution of Ali Ardestani, who was accused of providing images and footage of key sites to Mossad and confessing to the charges during hearings. Rights groups have documented at least 12 such executions since the June war, with some reports indicating over a dozen by early 2026. Iran has also reported detaining more than 700 suspected collaborators in the aftermath of the conflict.
Human rights organizations, including the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) group, have strongly criticized these proceedings. IHR Director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam described many convictions as lacking legitimacy, often relying on “forced confessions” extracted under duress, opaque trials, and no fair legal process. The group argues that such executions serve to instill fear amid domestic unrest, including recent protests over economic hardships, rising living costs, and currency devaluation that have spread across multiple provinces since late December 2025.
Iran does not recognize Israel and has long accused it of orchestrating assassinations of scientists, cyberattacks on nuclear facilities, and sabotage operations. Israel rarely comments publicly on such allegations or on Mossad activities. The shadow war between the two nations has escalated dramatically in recent years, with mutual accusations of espionage, targeted killings, and proxy conflicts across the region.
The execution of Esmaeilipour comes against a backdrop of ongoing domestic challenges in Iran, including widespread demonstrations and international scrutiny over its use of the death penalty, Iran carried out at least 1,500 executions in 2025 according to rights monitors. Authorities maintain that these measures are essential for national security and deterring foreign interference.
No immediate reaction was available from Israeli officials, who typically do not acknowledge or discuss intelligence operations. The case underscores the persistent volatility in Iran-Israel relations, with both sides continuing covert actions despite periodic diplomatic rhetoric.