Iran has executed two men convicted of allegedly spying for Israel, as authorities continue a sweeping crackdown on suspected espionage linked to the country’s conflict with Israel.
The executions, carried out on Monday morning, were confirmed by Iran’s judiciary through its official media outlet, Mizan. The men, identified as Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat, were found guilty of espionage and collaborating with Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad.
According to the judiciary, the pair were accused of transmitting the locations of sensitive military and security installations to Israeli intelligence operatives.
Mizan reported that the men were hanged after being convicted of “espionage and collaboration with the Zionist regime.”
The judiciary alleged that Behzad and Safvat provided intelligence that enabled Israeli security agencies to identify key military and security centres during the ongoing conflict.
“They helped the intelligence services achieve their objectives by providing them with information on military and security centres during the war,” the judiciary stated.
However, Iranian authorities did not reveal when the two men were arrested, the duration of their detention, or when their trials were conducted.
Crackdown on Alleged Espionage
The executions are the latest in a series of death sentences carried out by Tehran since the outbreak of its conflict with Israel and the United States in February.
Iran has significantly intensified its campaign against individuals accused of collaborating with Israel, with authorities claiming they are targeting espionage networks operating within the country.
Officials have repeatedly vowed to take firm action against anyone suspected of passing classified military or security information to foreign intelligence agencies.
Rising Number of Executions
Iran continues to rank among the countries with the highest number of executions globally, second only to China, according to international human rights organisations.
Figures released by Iran Human Rights, a Norway-based non-governmental organisation, in collaboration with Together Against the Death Penalty, a Paris-based advocacy group, indicate that Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people in 2025.
The organisations described the figure as the highest annual execution tally recorded in Iran since 1989.
Human Rights Groups Raise Concerns
International human rights organisations have repeatedly criticised Iran’s use of capital punishment, particularly in cases involving national security allegations and espionage charges.
Rights advocates argue that many defendants accused of spying or threatening national security do not receive fair and transparent trials.
Recently, Amnesty International condemned what it described as an increase in executions after Iranian authorities announced the hanging of two men convicted over their alleged involvement in anti-government protests.
The organisation has continued to urge the Iranian government to suspend executions and ensure that all defendants are granted fair judicial proceedings that meet international legal standards.
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