Iran’s judiciary announced on Monday the execution of Mohammad-Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, who was convicted of espionage for Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad. The development comes amid heightened hostilities between the two arch-rivals, now in their 11th day of direct and indirect confrontations.
According to the judiciary’s statement, Shayesteh was hanged early Monday morning for “intelligence cooperation with the Zionist regime,” the term Iranian authorities use to describe Israel. Officials further alleged that Shayesteh had ties not only to Mossad but also to Iran International, a Persian-language satellite television station based in London that Tehran accuses of fomenting unrest and having Israeli links.
Iran’s authorities have long treated Iran International as a hostile media entity, especially following the 2022 nationwide protests triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Amini, an Iranian Kurdish woman, died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly breaching the country’s strict Islamic dress code. The government labeled Iran International a “terrorist organization” during those protests, blaming it for inciting anti-government sentiment.
The execution of Shayesteh marks the latest in a series of swift and severe responses by Iran’s judiciary to perceived threats of espionage and foreign interference. Just a day earlier, authorities executed another man, Majid Mosayebi, also accused of being an agent for Mossad.
Iran’s judiciary chief, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, stated on state television Sunday that security-related cases involving espionage or collaboration with Israel would be expedited. “Security-related cases, especially those involving support for the usurping regime (Israel) and acting as a fifth column of the enemy, will be handled more swiftly,” he said.
Iran remains one of the world’s leading enforcers of capital punishment, second only to China, according to human rights organizations such as Amnesty International. The recent executions underscore the Islamic Republic’s hardline stance against dissent and foreign intelligence activity amid escalating regional tensions. Critics argue these actions serve to intimidate opposition voices, particularly during times of domestic and geopolitical crisis.
