Iran on Wednesday executed a man described as a “high-ranking spy” for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, according to the country’s judiciary. The man, identified as Mohsen Langarneshin, was accused of conducting espionage activities on behalf of Mossad and of aiding in the 2022 assassination of a senior Revolutionary Guards officer in Tehran.
The judiciary’s official news outlet, Mizan Online, reported that Langarneshin was hanged in the morning. While the date of his arrest and sentencing remains undisclosed, authorities linked him directly to the assassination of Colonel Sayyad Khodaei, a member of Iran’s elite Quds Force the foreign operations arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Khodaei was gunned down in broad daylight by two motorcyclists outside his home in Tehran in May 2022.
The report stated that Langarneshin had facilitated the assassination by purchasing a motorcycle used to monitor Khodaei’s movements prior to the attack. According to Iranian state media, Khodaei played a significant role in military operations in Syria, where Iran has long backed the government of former president Bashar al-Assad.
The New York Times previously reported that Israeli officials privately informed U.S. counterparts that Israel was behind the killing of Khodaei, reinforcing Tehran’s accusations of Mossad involvement. Langarneshin’s execution adds to a growing list of alleged Mossad operatives targeted by Iran’s judiciary in recent years.
Iran has consistently accused Israel of waging a covert war that includes sabotage operations, cyberattacks, and targeted assassinations of Iranian scientists and military figures. In December 2023, Iran executed another individual convicted of spying for Mossad, and four others were hanged in 2022 over similar charges.
The Iranian government views such cases as part of its broader struggle against foreign interference and threats to national security. Human rights organizations, however, have raised concerns over due process in Iran’s judicial system, particularly in cases involving espionage and national security.
Tensions between Iran and Israel remain high, with ongoing shadow conflicts playing out across the Middle East, especially in Syria and Lebanon. Wednesday’s execution underscores the deadly and ongoing nature of this regional rivalry.
