Iran Executes Spy Amid Surge in State-sanctioned Deaths

Iran executed a man on Monday, identified as Bahman Choobiasl, who was accused of espionage for Israel. This execution represents a significant escalation in a series of state-sanctioned killings, marking one of the largest waves of executions in decades. The decision to execute Choobiasl follows a weekend during which the United Nations reinstated sanctions against Iran regarding its nuclear program, a move that has heightened tensions in the region.

The Iranian government claimed that Choobiasl had connections with the Israeli spy agency Mossad, describing him as the agency’s “most trusted” operative. According to the Mizan news agency, which serves as the judiciary’s official voice, he was involved in “sensitive telecommunications projects” and provided information on the importation of electronic devices. This incident comes in the wake of heightened military activity between Iran and Israel, particularly following the June conflict that resulted in significant casualties, including approximately 1,100 people.

In a troubling trend, Iran has executed at least nine individuals for espionage since the conflict with Israel began. Earlier this month, another man, Babak Shahbazi, was executed under similar allegations. Human rights advocates have raised concerns about Shahbazi’s case, claiming he was coerced into a confession after allegedly being tortured. This raises serious questions about the integrity of the judicial process in Iran, where trials for espionage are often held in secrecy, leaving defendants without access to evidence against them.

Escalating Executions and Human Rights Concerns

Iran has experienced widespread protests in recent years, driven by economic distress, demands for women’s rights, and calls for political reform. In response, the state has intensified its use of capital punishment, with executions occurring at a pace not seen since the aftermath of the Iran-Iraq War in 1988, when thousands were executed. The Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights and the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran reported that over 1,000 executions have taken place in 2025, although the actual number may be higher due to a lack of official reporting on each case.

In reaction to this disturbing trend, independent human rights experts from the United Nations criticized Iran’s approach to capital punishment. They noted that the scale of executions in the country constitutes a severe violation of the right to life. “With an average of more than nine hangings per day in recent weeks, Iran appears to be conducting executions at an industrial scale that defies all accepted standards of human rights protection,” the experts stated.

The Iranian government continues to assert its commitment to confronting perceived threats to its national security, particularly in light of renewed international scrutiny over its nuclear ambitions. As tensions escalate, the implications of these executions extend beyond the individual cases, raising alarm about the broader human rights landscape in the country.