Iran has executed Bahman Choobiasl, a man accused of being one of the most important spies for Israel within the country. Choobiasl was found guilty of collaborating with Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, and providing critical information about sensitive telecommunications projects in Iran. This execution is the 10th of its kind since the June 2025 conflict between Iran and Israel.
Iran’s judiciary, through its Mizan news agency, confirmed the execution on September 29, 2025. The authorities accused Choobiasl of attempting to breach governmental data centers and facilitating Mossad’s efforts to disrupt Iran’s technological infrastructure, including its import of electronic equipment. Despite an appeal to Iran’s Supreme Court, which was rejected, Choobiasl’s death sentence was upheld.
This execution follows that of Babak Shahbazi, another individual convicted of espionage for Israel earlier this month. Human rights groups have raised concerns that Shahbazi’s confession may have been coerced under torture, as he had written a letter offering to fight in Ukraine, a move that some believe led to his arrest and execution.
The surge in executions comes in the aftermath of the intense, 12-day airstrikes between Israel and Iran in June 2025. In this conflict, Israel targeted high-profile Iranian generals and nuclear scientists, while Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes. The US also conducted operations on behalf of Israel, targeting Iranian nuclear sites. These attacks resulted in over 1,100 deaths in Iran, according to Amnesty International.
This period of heightened tensions has resulted in a dramatic increase in executions related to espionage and other crimes deemed as threats to national security. Since the June conflict, Iran has executed more than 10 individuals linked to Mossad and other espionage activities. While official reports indicate over 1,000 executions in 2025, human rights groups believe the actual number may be higher due to Iran’s limited transparency.
The recent reinstatement of United Nations sanctions on Iran further exacerbates the situation. As of September 28, 2025, sanctions were automatically reactivated after European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal triggered the “snapback” mechanism. Despite resistance from Russia and China, this move is expected to intensify economic pressure on Tehran and further isolate the country on the international stage.
With ongoing domestic unrest and fears of renewed conflict with Israel, Iranians are bracing for more challenges as their country faces increased international scrutiny and internal repression.
