Iran Executes Man Convicted of Espionage for US, Israel

Iran has executed a man convicted of carrying out espionage-related activities on behalf of the United States and Israel, according to Iranian state-linked media.

The Fars News Agency reported that the death sentence against the man, identified as Mehdi Khanki, was carried out following a judicial ruling. Iranian authorities had accused him of membership in what they described as an ‘anti-revolutionary terrorist organisation’ and of conducting operational activities allegedly serving the interests of the United States and Israel.

According to the report, security forces arrested Khanki during an operation in the city of Karaj. Iranian authorities said a cache of weapons and other military equipment was discovered at his home during the raid.

The items reportedly included a pistol, ammunition, a remote control device associated with explosives, homemade grenades, shoulder-launched explosive tubes and a high-powered bomb. Iranian officials cited the alleged possession of such materials as part of the evidence in the case.

Authorities said the case was subsequently taken through the judicial process, after which a court issued a death sentence. The sentence was later carried out, although the report did not provide details about the date or location of the execution.

The case comes against the backdrop of heightened security concerns in Iran, where authorities have repeatedly accused foreign intelligence agencies and their alleged local networks of attempting to gather sensitive information or carry out covert operations. Iran has frequently linked such allegations to its wider national security concerns and tensions with Western countries and Israel.

Tehran and Washington have remained deeply at odds over a range of issues, while Iran and Israel have also been involved in a long-running regional confrontation marked by political, military and intelligence tensions. Iranian authorities have previously announced arrests and prosecutions involving individuals accused of espionage or cooperation with foreign intelligence services.

However, details of such cases are often released primarily through Iranian state media, and independent verification of the allegations can be difficult. Reports about convictions and executions therefore generally rely on statements from Iranian judicial or security authorities unless additional sources provide corroborating evidence.

There was no immediate public reaction from either the United States or Israel regarding Khanki’s reported execution. It was also not immediately clear whether either country had acknowledged any connection with the individual or the activities attributed to him by Iranian authorities.

The execution is likely to draw renewed attention to Iran’s use of the death penalty in national security and espionage cases, particularly at a time of heightened tensions involving Tehran and its regional and international rivals.