Tehran executes man accused of spying for Israel amid domestic protests
The Iranian judiciary accused the man of working for Israel and providing the Mossad with sensitive information, without specifying its nature.
On Wednesday, Iran’s Mizan news agency, which is affiliated with the judiciary, reported that Tehran had executed a man accused of spying for Israel. It identified him as Ali Ardestani, noting that the execution took place amid heightened tensions with Israel and fears of potential attacks.
In the context of a decades-long shadow war with Israel, Iran has executed several people it accused of being linked to the Israeli intelligence service (Mossad) and of facilitating its operations inside the country.
Mizan stated: “The death sentence issued against Ali Ardestani on charges of espionage for the Mossad — through providing sensitive information — was carried out after the approval of the Supreme Court and the completion of legal procedures.”
Executions of Iranians convicted of spying for Israel have risen noticeably in recent months, following a direct confrontation between the two regional rivals in June, when Israeli and American forces launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The Iranian-Israeli conflict further escalated when Israel struck various targets inside Iran, including through operations relying on the deployment of Mossad special units deep within the country.
These continuing executions have raised human-rights concerns, with critics warning that they may be used to settle scores with civil opposition groups under the pretext of combating espionage. Many Iranians abroad have demonstrated against what they describe as repression and the use of capital punishment as a tool of intimidation.
The latest execution comes amid growing protests over the worsening economic situation, which Iranian security forces have confronted forcefully, leading to numerous deaths among demonstrators.
Activists fear that the authorities may be using innocent people as scapegoats after failing to capture the real spies, who are often outside the country by the time their activities are uncovered.
In December 2023, the Iranian judiciary executed a man in the southeast of the country after convicting him of cooperating with the Mossad. Four men had also been executed at the end of 2022 on similar charges.
Meanwhile, Iranian-Swedish academic Ahmadreza Djalali was sentenced to death in 2017 on charges of “spying” for Israel, after being arrested in 2016 while traveling to Tehran to attend a conference. His family says the accusations are fabricated.
Opponents of this policy argue that these executions are a means for the Iranian authorities to intimidate their critics rather than genuinely curb espionage. Israel, for its part, has arrested several citizens and residents in recent months on charges related to spying for Tehran.
