On Saturday, according to the official IRNA news agency, an operative from the Mossad intelligence service of Israel was reportedly executed in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province. The individual was accused of communicating with foreign services, specifically Mossad, gathering classified information, and, in collaboration with associates, providing documents to foreign services, including Mossad. The statement did not disclose the person’s identity. The accused was alleged to have handed over classified information to a Mossad officer with the intention of promoting propaganda for groups and organizations opposing the Islamic Republic, although the location of the alleged transfer was not specified.
Execution just days after the Attack
The timing of the individual’s arrest was not clear, but IRNA mentioned that an appeal had been rejected. The execution occurred in a Zahedan jail in Sistan-Baluchestan, a day after Baluch militants attacked a police station in the province, resulting in the deaths of 11 security personnel and injuries to several others. A state funeral was held for the victims in the town of Rask, where the attack occurred. Two militants from the Jaish al-Adl group were also reported killed in subsequent clashes.
Sistan-Baluchestan, a province bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan, has experienced frequent confrontations between security forces and Sunni militants. The region’s predominantly Sunni Muslim population contrasts with the Shiite majority in Iran. Iran has previously publicized the arrests of alleged foreign agents, including those accused of collaborating with Israel. In December 2022, the country executed four individuals convicted of working with Israel’s intelligence services.
Iran and Israel, longstanding adversaries, do not recognize each other, engaging in a covert conflict for years. Tehran accuses Israel of conducting sabotage attacks and assassinations targeting its nuclear program. In contrast, the United States and Israel allege that Iran uses drones and missiles to attack US forces and ships linked to Israel in the Gulf.
More to read: Dutch court rejects ban on transferring parts of fighter jet F-35 to Israel
Human rights groups, such as Amnesty International, report that Iran executes more individuals annually than any other nation except China. According to a November report from the Norway-based Iran Human Rights group, the Islamic republic executed over 600 people that year, marking the highest figure in eight years. Executions in Iran are generally carried out by hanging.