On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Iranian authorities executed a man convicted of espionage for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, marking another chapter in the Islamic Republic’s ongoing crackdown on alleged foreign agents. The execution, carried out by hanging, was reported by Mizan Online, the official news outlet of Iran’s judiciary, which identified the individual as Babak Shahbazi. According to the judiciary, Shahbazi’s execution followed a thorough legal process, culminating in the confirmation of his death sentence by Iran’s Supreme Court.
The execution comes at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, two archrivals whose adversarial relationship has long shaped the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. The case of Babak Shahbazi underscores Iran’s determination to send a strong message to those suspected of collaborating with foreign intelligence services, particularly Mossad, which Iran accuses of orchestrating covert operations to undermine its national security.
Details of the Case
While the exact date of Shahbazi’s arrest was not disclosed, Mizan Online reported that he had been convicted of serious charges, including “corruption on earth” and “waging war against God.” These charges, often levied in Iran for offenses deemed to threaten the state or its Islamic principles, carry the death penalty under the country’s legal system. The judiciary’s statement highlighted Shahbazi’s alleged role in passing sensitive information to Mossad, Israel’s external intelligence agency, in exchange for financial compensation and the promise of residency in a foreign country.
Shahbazi’s professional background reportedly facilitated his alleged espionage activities. According to Mizan, he was involved in the design and installation of industrial cooling systems for companies linked to Iran’s military, security, and telecommunications sectors. These sectors are critical to Iran’s national infrastructure, and access to them would have provided Shahbazi with opportunities to gather sensitive information. The judiciary claimed that Shahbazi exploited this access to transmit classified data to Mossad, though specific details about the nature of the information or the duration of his alleged activities were not publicly disclosed.
The execution was carried out in accordance with Iran’s legal framework, which requires multiple stages of judicial review before a death sentence can be implemented. The Supreme Court’s confirmation of Shahbazi’s sentence indicates that his case underwent scrutiny at the highest levels of Iran’s judiciary, a process intended to ensure that such severe punishments are applied only after due consideration.
Iran’s Broader Crackdown on Alleged Spies
Shahbazi’s execution is part of a broader wave of actions by Iranian authorities targeting individuals accused of collaborating with Israel. Since the outbreak of hostilities between Iran and Israel in June 2025, Iran has intensified its efforts to root out suspected spies and foreign agents. The conflict, which has involved military exchanges and heightened rhetoric, has amplified Iran’s concerns about internal security threats, particularly those linked to Israel.
In August 2025, Iranian authorities executed Roozbeh Vadi, an employee of a subsidiary of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI). Vadi was convicted of providing intelligence on Iranian nuclear scientists and facilities, a case that drew significant attention due to its implications for Iran’s nuclear program. The execution of Vadi, like that of Shahbazi, was framed by Iranian officials as a necessary measure to protect national security and deter future acts of espionage.
In late July 2025, Iran’s intelligence ministry announced a major operation that led to the arrest of 20 individuals described as “spies, Mossad operational and support agents, and elements connected to the Israeli regime’s intelligence officers.” The arrests spanned Tehran and several other provinces, signaling the geographic scope of Iran’s counterintelligence efforts. The ministry’s statement emphasized that the suspects were involved in activities aimed at undermining Iran’s sovereignty, though specific details about their alleged actions were not made public.
These cases reflect Iran’s heightened vigilance in the face of perceived external threats, particularly from Israel. The Islamic Republic has long accused Mossad of conducting covert operations on its soil, including assassinations of nuclear scientists, cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, and efforts to destabilize the government. The execution of individuals like Shahbazi and Vadi, coupled with mass arrests, serves as both a punitive measure and a public demonstration of Iran’s resolve to counter such threats.
Iran-Israel Rivalry: A Historical Context
The execution of Babak Shahbazi must be understood within the broader context of the Iran-Israel rivalry, a decades-long conflict rooted in ideological, geopolitical, and strategic differences. Iran, a theocratic Islamic Republic, and Israel, a Jewish state, have been locked in a cold war since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which transformed Iran’s foreign policy and positioned it as a leading opponent of Israel in the region.
Iran’s leadership views Israel as an existential threat, accusing it of seeking to dominate the Middle East with the support of Western powers, particularly the United States. Tehran has consistently supported groups opposed to Israel, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian territories, as part of its “Axis of Resistance” strategy. Israel, in turn, perceives Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional influence as direct threats to its security, leading to a shadow war characterized by covert operations, cyberattacks, and proxy conflicts.
The June 2025 war between Iran and Israel marked a significant escalation in this rivalry. While the details of the conflict remain complex and multifaceted, it involved direct military engagements, including airstrikes and missile exchanges, that heightened fears of a broader regional war. The conflict has also intensified Iran’s domestic security measures, as the government seeks to prevent foreign powers from exploiting internal vulnerabilities.
Mossad, Israel’s intelligence agency, has a long history of conducting operations against Iran, including the alleged assassinations of key figures in Iran’s nuclear program. Iran’s accusations against Shahbazi and others reflect its belief that Israel is actively working to infiltrate and undermine its critical infrastructure. The promise of financial rewards and foreign residency, as alleged in Shahbazi’s case, is a common tactic attributed to intelligence agencies seeking to recruit informants in hostile states.
Iran’s Legal System and the Death Penalty
The charges of “corruption on earth” and “waging war against God” are rooted in Iran’s Islamic legal framework, which draws heavily on Sharia law. These charges are often applied to offenses deemed to threaten the state or the moral fabric of society, including espionage, terrorism, and acts of rebellion. In Iran’s judicial system, such crimes are considered capital offenses, punishable by death.
Iran’s use of the death penalty has drawn significant international scrutiny. According to Amnesty International and other human rights organizations, Iran is the world’s second-most prolific executioner, surpassed only by China. The country’s execution rate has remained consistently high, with hundreds of individuals executed annually for a range of offenses, from drug trafficking to political crimes. Critics argue that Iran’s judicial process lacks transparency and fairness, particularly in cases involving political or security-related charges. Defendants in such cases are often denied access to adequate legal representation, and trials may be conducted in secret, raising concerns about due process.
In Shahbazi’s case, the judiciary’s assertion that the execution followed “due legal process” and Supreme Court confirmation suggests an attempt to present the case as procedurally sound. However, the lack of detailed public information about the trial, including the evidence presented against Shahbazi, has fueled skepticism among international observers. Human rights groups have repeatedly called on Iran to abolish the death penalty or, at minimum, ensure that trials meet international standards of fairness and transparency.
Implications for Iran’s Domestic and Foreign Policy
The execution of Babak Shahbazi carries significant implications for both Iran’s domestic security policies and its foreign relations. Domestically, the case reinforces the government’s narrative that Iran faces constant threats from foreign adversaries, particularly Israel and its allies. By publicizing high-profile executions and arrests, the authorities aim to deter potential collaborators and rally public support for their security measures. This approach also serves to justify the government’s stringent control over dissent and its efforts to monitor and regulate access to sensitive sectors, such as the military and telecommunications industries.
On the international stage, Shahbazi’s execution is likely to further strain Iran’s relations with Israel and its Western allies. While Israel has not publicly commented on the case, it is unlikely to acknowledge any involvement with Shahbazi, as intelligence agencies typically maintain secrecy about their operations. However, the execution could prompt retaliatory actions, such as cyberattacks or covert operations, as part of the ongoing shadow war between the two nations.
The case also highlights the challenges of verifying espionage allegations in a highly polarized geopolitical context. Iran’s claims about Shahbazi’s activities, while serious, have not been independently corroborated, and the lack of transparency in the judicial process raises questions about the strength of the evidence against him. For Iran, however, the execution serves a strategic purpose: it signals to both domestic and international audiences that the Islamic Republic will not tolerate threats to its sovereignty.
Broader Regional and Global Implications
The execution of Babak Shahbazi occurs against the backdrop of a volatile Middle East, where tensions between Iran and its adversaries, including Israel, the United States, and certain Gulf states, continue to escalate. The June 2025 war has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict, with potential spillover effects on global energy markets, given Iran’s role as a major oil producer. The ongoing shadow war, characterized by espionage, cyberattacks, and proxy conflicts, adds further complexity to an already unstable region.
For the international community, Iran’s use of the death penalty in espionage cases raises broader questions about human rights and the rule of law. Western governments and human rights organizations are likely to condemn Shahbazi’s execution, particularly if doubts persist about the fairness of his trial. Such criticism, however, is unlikely to alter Iran’s policies, as the government views its security measures as essential to its survival in a hostile geopolitical environment.
The case also underscores the challenges of addressing espionage in an era of advanced technology and globalized communication. Industrial cooling systems, the sector in which Shahbazi reportedly worked, are critical to the functioning of military and telecommunications infrastructure. The alleged exploitation of such systems for espionage highlights the vulnerabilities of modern supply chains and the potential for insider threats to compromise national security.
Conclusion
The execution of Babak Shahbazi on September 17, 2025, marks a significant moment in Iran’s ongoing campaign to counter perceived threats from Israel and other foreign adversaries. Convicted of spying for Mossad, Shahbazi’s case reflects the Islamic Republic’s determination to protect its national security through harsh measures, including the death penalty. The execution, carried out after a judicial process culminating in Supreme Court confirmation, underscores Iran’s zero-tolerance policy toward espionage and its broader strategy of deterrence in the face of external pressures.
As tensions between Iran and Israel continue to simmer, cases like Shahbazi’s are likely to remain a flashpoint in their rivalry. The execution serves as both a warning to potential collaborators and a signal to Iran’s adversaries that the country will act decisively to safeguard its interests. However, the lack of transparency in Iran’s judicial process and its high execution rate continue to draw international criticism, highlighting the complex interplay between security, human rights, and geopolitics in the Islamic Republic’s policies.
The broader implications of Shahbazi’s execution extend beyond Iran’s borders, contributing to the ongoing narrative of mistrust and hostility in the Middle East. As the region navigates a precarious balance of power, the shadow war between Iran and Israel shows no signs of abating, with espionage and counterintelligence efforts likely to remain central to their conflict. For now, the execution of Babak Shahbazi stands as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved in this enduring rivalry.
