Iran on Sunday carried out the execution of a man convicted of espionage, in what authorities described as a wartime intelligence offence linked to the recent conflict involving Israel and the United States.
The country’s judiciary confirmed that the convict, identified as Mojtaba Kian, was put to death early Sunday after being found guilty of transmitting sensitive defence-related information to hostile networks.
According to the judiciary’s Mizan Online platform, Kian was accused of sending classified details about Iran’s military-industrial facilities during the nearly 40-day war that erupted earlier this year.
“Mojtaba Kian… who sent information related to the country’s defence industry units to the enemy, was hanged early this morning,” the report stated.
Officials said the intelligence allegedly shared included coordinates and operational details of facilities involved in producing components for Iran’s defence sector. Authorities further claimed that at least one of the targeted sites was struck during the conflict after being exposed.
The execution marks the first known case directly tied to espionage offences committed during the ongoing war, which began on February 28 following US-Israeli strikes that killed senior Iranian commanders and triggered retaliatory attacks across the region.
Since the outbreak of hostilities, Iran has intensified its internal crackdown on alleged collaborators, increasing arrests and executions linked to spying accusations. However, prior to Sunday’s case, those executed had reportedly been convicted for offences predating the war.
State media said Kian had communicated with what it described as “hostile networks affiliated with the Zionist-American enemy,” allegedly passing sensitive defence information and coordinates to external contacts, including media platforms abroad.
Iranian authorities have in past cases accused foreign-based Persian-language broadcasters of cooperating with Israeli intelligence operations, though such outlets have consistently denied involvement in espionage activities.
READ ALSO: US, Iran Edge Closer To Fragile Peace Deal As Trump Signals
The judiciary also confirmed that Kian’s execution was completed after what it described as full legal proceedings, adding that the sentence was carried out less than 50 days after his arrest. His assets were also reportedly confiscated by the state.
Iran continues to rank among the world’s highest executioners, according to human rights organisations including Amnesty International, which have repeatedly raised concerns over due process and the scope of capital punishment in the country.
The execution comes amid a broader wave of security-related sentences. Just days earlier, Iranian authorities executed two men accused of armed rebellion and membership in groups labelled as “separatist terrorist organisations,” a term commonly used for Kurdish opposition groups operating from neighbouring Iraq.
Human rights observers say the post-war environment has coincided with a sharp rise in espionage-related prosecutions, as Tehran tightens internal security following months of regional military escalation.