Iran has carried out the execution of a man accused of spying for Israel, according to reports from the country’s judiciary-linked media.
The individual, identified as Hamidreza Sabet Esmailpour, was executed by hanging in the early hours of Wednesday after being convicted of espionage-related offences. Authorities said he was found guilty of collaborating with Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad, by allegedly transferring classified documents and sensitive information.
Esmailpour was arrested on April 29, 2025, and his death sentence was upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court following what officials described as the completion of all legal procedures.
Human rights groups have claimed that at least 12 people have been executed on similar espionage charges since tensions escalated between Iran and Israel during their confrontation in June 2025.
The execution comes at a time of heightened international scrutiny of Iran, following reports that security forces killed thousands of anti-government protesters earlier this month during widespread demonstrations. Some accounts have put the death toll even higher.
President of United States Donald Trump has warned of possible military action against Iran over the crackdown, stating that Tehran had privately indicated it suspended plans to execute around 800 detainees arrested during the protests. Iranian authorities, however, have rejected that claim.
International rights organizations and several Western governments have repeatedly criticized Iran’s growing use of the death penalty, particularly in cases linked to political dissent and alleged espionage. Activists argue that many such convictions are based on forced confessions and closed-door trials that deny defendants proper legal representation.
Iranian officials maintain that those executed were involved in serious national security offences, insisting they were agents of hostile foreign intelligence services engaged in sabotage or terrorism.
Esmailpour was arrested on April 29, 2025, and his death sentence was upheld by Iran’s Supreme Court following what officials described as the completion of all legal procedures.
Human rights groups have claimed that at least 12 people have been executed on similar espionage charges since tensions escalated between Iran and Israel during their confrontation in June 2025.
The execution comes at a time of heightened international scrutiny of Iran, following reports that security forces killed thousands of anti-government protesters earlier this month during widespread demonstrations. Some accounts have put the death toll even higher.
President of United States Donald Trump has warned of possible military action against Iran over the crackdown, stating that Tehran had privately indicated it suspended plans to execute around 800 detainees arrested during the protests. Iranian authorities, however, have rejected that claim.
International rights organizations and several Western governments have repeatedly criticized Iran’s growing use of the death penalty, particularly in cases linked to political dissent and alleged espionage. Activists argue that many such convictions are based on forced confessions and closed-door trials that deny defendants proper legal representation.
Iranian officials maintain that those executed were involved in serious national security offences, insisting they were agents of hostile foreign intelligence services engaged in sabotage or terrorism.
