On Wednesday, Iran executed two individuals in separate cases, with accusations ranging from espionage for Israel to involvement with the Islamic State (IS) militant group, according to reports from state media.
Espionage case linked to Israel
The judiciary news outlet Mizan identified the first individual as Rouzbeh Vadi, who was charged with relaying sensitive information to Israel’s intelligence service, the Mossad. Authorities allege that Vadi provided crucial details regarding an Iranian nuclear scientist who was killed during Israel’s airstrikes in June. However, Mizan did not disclose the identity of the scientist or specifics about Vadi’s arrest.
Reports indicate that Vadi was recruited via online channels and had met with Mossad operatives five times in Vienna, Austria. He was employed by one of Iran’s significant organizations, involved in what Mizan described as a “wide range of crimes against the country’s internal and external security.”
Israel’s ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka, noted in June that targeted strikes during Israel’s 12-day military operation against Iran resulted in the deaths of at least 14 scientists and engineers linked to Iran’s nuclear program.
In the wake of the ongoing conflict, Iranian authorities have intensified internal security measures, leading to a series of mass arrests and executions. Reports suggest that at least seven individuals have been hanged in recent months on charges of espionage for Israel.
Execution of alleged Islamic State member
In a separate incident, Iran executed Mehdi Asgharzadeh, who was accused of being an IS member involved in planning sabotage operations. According to Mizan, Asgharzadeh had undergone military training in Syria and Iraq before entering Iran illegally with a four-member team, all of whom were killed in a confrontation with Iranian security forces.
Mizan reported that Iran’s Supreme Court had upheld the sentences passed down by lower courts, confirming that full legal procedures were followed prior to the executions of both men.
The number of executions in Iran has seen a significant rise, reaching at least 901 in the previous year—marking the highest annual total since 2015, as reported by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Furthermore, Amnesty International indicated that nearly 700 individuals have been executed in Iran thus far in 2025, calling on the Iranian government to cease all planned executions and to implement a moratorium aimed at abolishing the death penalty entirely.