Iran hangs 3, arrests 700 agents working for Israel during conflict in Tehran
The judiciary announced plans to revise Iran’s espionage law to provide broader authority for prosecuting individuals detained during the recent conflict.
In a sweeping crackdown to punish those with links revealing the secret of the nation to Israel during the recent war, Iran says, on Wednesday, June 25, that it has executed three men spying for Benjamin Netanyahu.
The hanging comes a day after Israel and Iran agreed to the Donald Trump-initiated mediation after 12 days of heightened conflict over Tehran’s alleged possession of nuclear weapons.
The three men who have been executed by Iran have been identified as Idris Ali, Azad Shojai and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul. The executions took place in Urmia, a northwestern city near the border with Turkey, the judiciary said, sharing photos of the three men in blue prison uniforms.
Iran claimed that the three men attempted to bring assassination equipment into the country.
The Iranian judiciary said, “Idris Ali, Azad Shojai and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul, who attempted to import equipment into the country to carry out assassinations, were arrested and tried for… cooperation favouring the Zionist regime.
“The sentence was carried out this morning…and they were hanged.”
Iran is known for arresting and executing individuals accused of working for Israel. After Israel launched strikes on Iran on June 13, Iran had vowed swift trials for people arrested on suspicion of collaborating with its arch-foe.
Three days ago, the Iranian authorities executed a man convicted of being an agent for Israel’s Mossad spy service, the judiciary said.
Judiciary’s Mizan Online website said, “Majid Mosayebi… was hanged this morning after going through the full process of criminal procedure and after his sentence was confirmed by the Supreme Court,” adding that Mosayebi sought to provide “sensitive information … to Mossad”.
During the conflict, Iran also arrested at least 700 persons, accused of having ties with with an Israeli espionage network, state media reported on Wednesday, as the Islamic Republic intensifies its security crackdown following a ceasefire with Israel.
The arrests happened in several provinces, including Kermanshah, Isfahan, Khuzestan, Fars and Lorestan, according to Fars News Agency.
Security officials accused the detained individuals of “directing suicide drones,” “making bombs,” “photographing sensitive military sites” and “sending information to Israel.”
Authorities also claimed to have confiscated more than 10,000 “micro-drones” in Tehran alone.
Iran has executed six people on espionage charges over the past two weeks, including three men on Wednesday who were accused of involvement in the 2020 assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.
The judiciary announced plans to revise Iran’s espionage law to provide broader authority for prosecuting individuals detained during the recent conflict.
Spokesman Asghar Jahangir said existing laws may not cover “many instances of today’s events.”
