Iranian Court Confirms Execution of Alleged Mossad Spy

Iran has executed Aghil Keshavarz, a 27-year-old architecture student convicted of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, judicial authorities confirmed on Saturday. The Supreme Court upheld his espionage conviction, marking him the tenth person executed for alleged spying since the June Israel-United States-Iran conflict.

Keshavarz was arrested earlier this year in Urmia, northwest Iran, after authorities said he was caught photographing an army headquarters.

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Accusations and Espionage Activities

According to the judiciary’s official news agency, Mizan, Keshavarz was accused of completing over 200 missions for Israeli intelligence in Tehran, Isfahan, Urmia, and Shahroud. His alleged activities included:

• Photographing sensitive sites
• Conducting opinion polling
• Monitoring traffic patterns at strategic locations

Authorities stated he communicated with Mossad and military officials via encrypted messaging platforms and received cryptocurrency payments for his missions. The judiciary claimed he “knowingly cooperated” with Israel to harm Iran’s Islamic Republic.

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New Espionage Legislation and Crackdown

In October 2025, Iran tightened its laws against suspected spies for Israel and the US, making espionage automatically punishable by death along with asset confiscation.

Since the June war, which involved a 12-day Israeli air campaign on Iranian military and nuclear targets, Tehran has increased executions and arrests of alleged spies. Human rights groups have criticized such convictions, noting that suspects may be tortured into confessions.

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Context: June Israel-Iran War

The June conflict saw Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian generals, nuclear scientists, and residential areas, with the US conducting strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in support of Israel. According to Amnesty International, over 1,100 people were killed in the hostilities.

In response, Iran has intensified its internal security crackdown, particularly targeting individuals accused of collaborating with Israel, as well as cracking down on protests linked to economic grievances, women’s rights, and calls for regime change.