Iran has executed a man accused of spying for both the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Israel’s Mossad intelligence service, according to state-run media. The execution of Erfan Shakourzadeh, a 29-year-old aerospace engineering graduate, was reported by Iran’s IRNA news agency.
Shakourzadeh had worked at a scientific organisation involved in satellite activities and was accused of sharing classified scientific information with foreign intelligence services. He was arrested in 2025 and, according to the Iran Human Rights Society, was forced into his confession.
The execution is part of a series of hangings carried out by Iran since nationwide protests swept the country in January. Activist groups have long accused Iran of conducting closed-door trials where defendants cannot fully defend themselves. Iran’s judiciary chief has stated that Tehran would increase the speed of executions to combat its enemies.
Earlier this month, Iran executed two other men, Yaghoub Karimpour and Nasser Bakarzadeh, for spying for Israel. Karimpour was accused of passing sensitive information to a Mossad officer, while Bakarzadeh was accused of collecting details on government and religious figures and key sites, including near the Natanz nuclear site in Isfahan province.
