Iran’s judiciary news agency Mizan reported that the execution was carried out on Saturday. The man had been convicted of working for Israel and maintaining links with Iranian opposition groups. Authorities claimed he provided sensitive information that threatened national security.
The Iran Human Rights group later identified the executed man as Aqeel Keshavarz, a 27 year-old architecture student. In a post on social media platform X, the group said his case raised serious concerns about due process and the treatment of political prisoners in Iran.
Iran and Israel have been locked in decades of hostility, often fighting a shadow war through intelligence operations, cyberattacks, and covert actions. Iranian officials say they have uncovered several spy networks allegedly connected to Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, and have handed down death sentences in multiple cases.
Tensions between the two countries sharply increased in June, when long-standing rivalry turned into open confrontation after Israel carried out strikes on targets inside Iran. Some of these operations reportedly involved Mossad commandos operating deep within Iranian territory, according to regional sources.
Human rights organizations say executions linked to espionage charges have surged this year, with several Iranians put to death in recent months. Activists warn that vague accusations and rushed trials are being used to silence dissent during a period of heightened conflict.
Iranian authorities defend the executions as necessary to protect national security, while critics argue they reflect a broader crackdown amid growing regional instability.
