Just a day after a ceasefire with Israel came into force, Iran on Wednesday executed three men accused of espionage on behalf of the Israeli government, The Associated Press (AP) reported.
According to Iran’s judiciary, the three men—Idris Ali, Azad Shojai, and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul—had been convicted of attempting to smuggle equipment into the country for the purpose of conducting assassinations for Israel, which Iranian authorities refer to as the “Zionist regime.”
In a formal announcement, officials confirmed: “The sentence was carried out this morning… and they were hanged.” The executions occurred in Urmia, a northwestern Iranian city close to the Turkish border, AP added.
Images Released of Prisoners Before Execution
The Iranian judiciary also shared images of the three men wearing blue prison uniforms ahead of their execution. The move follows Iran’s pattern of publicly disclosing details of such cases, especially those involving alleged ties to foreign intelligence agencies.
Iran has frequently accused individuals of working with Israel’s Mossad and often announces both arrests and capital punishments for those it suspects of spying.
Executions Follow Vow of Swift Justice After Iran-Israel Conflict
These executions come shortly after Iranian leaders pledged to accelerate trials of those believed to be working with Israeli intelligence. The promise was made in the aftermath of the Iran-Israel conflict that began on June 13.
In fact, earlier in the same week, Iran had hanged other individuals it claimed were Mossad agents—executions took place on both Sunday and Monday.
Human Rights Groups Condemn Iran’s Execution Record
Rights organizations have long expressed concern over Iran’s use of the death penalty, particularly for political or espionage charges. Groups like Amnesty International continue to monitor and condemn these actions.
According to these watchdogs, Iran is the second-most prolific executioner in the world, behind only China—a status that has brought it consistent international criticism.
