Iran executed Gholamreza Khani Shakarab on May 26 for allegedly spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, the country’s judiciary reported, marking a recent surge in security-related executions amid conflict with Israel and the United States.
What happened
The Iranian judiciary’s Mizan Online website announced Shakarab’s execution after the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence on charges of cooperation and espionage in favor of Israel. Authorities described him as a key Mossad operative involved in recruiting inside Iran for anti-security activities.
According to the report, Shakarab was also assigned by Mossad to travel to a regional country to prepare for the assassination of a Jewish rabbi to foment accusations of anti-Jewish actions against Iran. He was arrested following a complex intelligence operation conducted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The timing of Shakarab’s arrest and trial was not disclosed. His hanging follows other recent executions linked to national security, including a man executed for armed attacks during Iran’s anti-government protests and Mojtaba Kian, who was hanged for espionage related to Iran’s war with Israel and the U.S.
Why it matters
This execution is the latest in a series of capital punishments Iran has carried out amid heightened tensions and open conflict with Israel and the United States since February 28, 2026. The Iranian government is intensifying its crackdown on perceived internal threats linked to foreign intelligence agencies.
Iran ranks second globally for the number of executions, after China. Rights groups report that the executions doubled in recent years, contributing to a global peak in death penalties not seen since 1981. In 2025 alone, over 1,600 people were reportedly executed in Iran, including dozens of women.
Background
Iran has faced a wave of executions amid ongoing protests and a broader clash with Western nations, including the U.S. and Israel. The unrest intensified following the 2022-2023 demonstrations sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini. Several executions have targeted individuals accused of involvement in attacks during these protests or of espionage activities.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps plays a central role in domestic intelligence operations. The Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, has long been accused by Tehran of orchestrating covert networks within Iran. The tensions escalated into open conflict earlier this year, leading to increased security threats and harsh crackdowns inside Iran.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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