Iran Executes Man Convicted of Spying for Mossad

Iranian authorities have executed a man convicted of collaborating with and engaging in espionage for Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad.

This is the latest in a series of executions carried out by Iranian authorities this year, particularly in security-related cases following Iran’s escalation of hostilities with the US and Israel in late February.

Iran’s judiciary, citing AFP on Tuesday (26 May 2026), stated that the hanging was carried out on the same day after the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for Gholamreza Khani Shekarab.

“Gholamreza Khani Shekarab was executed on charges of collaborating with and espionage for the Zionist regime,” reported Mizan Online, the judiciary’s website.

Shekarab was executed by hanging, the standard method used in Iran.

Mizan Online described Shekarab as “one of Mossad’s operational leaders abroad… who sought to recruit individuals within the country” for “anti-security activities”.

“Ultimately, in a complex operation using intelligence deception tactics, the defendant was lured into the country and arrested,” Mizan Online reported, adding that Shekarab was detained by the intelligence units of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Mizan Online’s report also stated that Shekarab was tasked by Mossad “to travel to a regional country with the aim of identifying and preparing a site for the assassination of a Jewish rabbi… to falsely accuse Iran of anti-Semitic actions”.

It is unclear when Shekarab was arrested or sentenced to death.

“Finally, after reviewing the case… and following the legal process and confirmation of the sentence by the Supreme Court, the defendant was executed by hanging this morning,” Mizan Online reported on Tuesday (26 May) local time.

Previously, on Monday (25 May), Iran executed another man convicted of armed attacks during widespread anti-government protests in January.

The day before, on Sunday (24 May), Tehran hanged Mojtaba Kian, accused of espionage during the ongoing conflict with the US and Israel. This was the first execution related to espionage charges since the conflict began.

According to human rights group Amnesty International, Iran has carried out the second-highest number of executions globally after China.