Wed Sep 17 06:33:44 UTC 2025: ## Iran Executes Man Accused of Spying for Israel Amid Crackdown
**Tehran, Iran** – Iran has executed Babak Shahbazi, a man accused of spying for Israel, according to a report by the judiciary’s Mizan news agency. State media claims Shahbazi gathered and sold sensitive information about Iranian data centers and security installations to Israeli handlers.
The execution comes amidst a broader crackdown on alleged collaborators with Israel following the recent 12-day conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States. Since the conflict, this marks the ninth execution for espionage, raising concerns among activists about a potential wave of executions.
According to Mizan, Shahbazi worked alongside Esmaeil Fekri, who was executed in June on similar charges. The defendant’s appeal to the Supreme Court was rejected.
However, rights activists dispute the claims against Shahbazi, alleging he was tortured into a false confession. They claim he was arrested for writing a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, offering his assistance in the fight against Russia, which uses Iranian-supplied drones to attack Ukraine. Iran Human Rights group stated Shahbazi’s offer to help Ukraine was used as evidence of espionage, falsely claiming Israel taught him to use Microsoft Word. Iranian authorities have not addressed this claim.
The execution occurs within the context of a long-standing shadow war between Iran and Israel, escalating to a full-blown conflict in June. During that conflict, Israel launched airstrikes targeting Iranian generals, nuclear scientists, and civilian areas, prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Iran. The US also carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites on behalf of Israel.
Following the conflict, Iran pledged swift trials for those suspected of collaborating with Israel, fueling fears that the country may carry out a wave of executions as part of a crackdown.
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