Daijiworld Media Network – Tehran

Tehran, Jun 23: In a development that has escalated regional tensions further, Iran on Monday executed a detainee accused of collaborating with Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad, state-linked Tasnim news agency reported. The man, Mohammadamin Shayesteh, was arrested in late 2023 and sentenced to death for “insulting Islamic sanctities” and “collaborating with the enemy.”

Tasnim described Shayesteh as “the head of a cyber-team affiliated with Mossad.” His confession, according to Iran Human Rights, was obtained under torture. He was later charged under Article 6 of Iran's law on Countering Israeli Actions Against Peace and Security.

Shayesteh’s execution comes just a day after the United States carried out surprise airstrikes targeting Iran’s key nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, further deepening the confrontation between Iran, the US, and Israel.

Iran has seen a spate of executions in recent months, with Iran Human Rights reporting over 300 hangings in the last two months alone. On Sunday, Iranian authorities also executed Majid Mosayebi on similar charges of spying for Mossad.

Following Israel’s attack on Iran on June 13, Tehran has intensified its internal crackdown on alleged espionage networks. The Fars news agency reported that 22 individuals were arrested in Qom province alone for suspected links to Israeli intelligence.

Iran continues to be one of the world’s leading executioners, second only to China. According to the UN human rights office, at least 901 people were executed in the country in 2024, up from 853 in 2023.

The mounting executions and arrests reflect Tehran's heightened state of alert as geopolitical tensions surge across the Middle East.