Iranian authorities executed Esmaeil Fekri on Monday, following his conviction for espionage on behalf of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, according to a statement from the judiciary.
Iran’s judiciary announced that Fekri had been arrested in 2023 and charged with “corruption on Earth” and moharebeh, or waging war against God—charges that carry the death penalty under Iranian law.
The judiciary’s Mizan Online news outlet confirmed the sentence was carried out after the country’s Supreme Court upheld the conviction.
The Iranian government accused Fekri of supplying intelligence to Israel, which Tehran designates a hostile foreign power. Authorities did not release specific details about the nature of the information Fekri allegedly passed to Mossad or the circumstances of his arrest.
Iran frequently detains individuals it accuses of spying for foreign governments, particularly Israel and the United States, often resulting in harsh penalties including execution. Officials said Fekri’s punishment was intended as a deterrent to those considering similar actions.
While the judiciary emphasized that all legal procedures were followed in Fekri’s case, it did not disclose the location of the execution or provide further information about the evidence presented during the trial.
