Iran has carried out the execution of two men accused of spying for Israel, intensifying its internal security crackdown amid heightened tensions linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.
According to Iranian authorities, Yaghoub Karimpour and Nasser Bakarzadeh were convicted of cooperating with Mossad and were executed after being found guilty of espionage-related charges. Officials alleged that Karimpour transmitted sensitive intelligence directly to a Mossad handler, while Bakarzadeh was accused of collecting detailed information on government officials, religious figures, and strategically important locations, including sites near the Natanz nuclear facility in central Iran.
The executions form part of a broader pattern of intensified enforcement. Earlier in April, two other individuals were also put to death on similar charges, with Iranian authorities claiming they were part of a network linked to Israeli intelligence and had received training abroad. However, opposition groups disputed these accusations, framing the cases as politically motivated actions against dissent.
International concern has grown over the pace of executions and arrests. The United Nations reported that since late February, when hostilities escalated, Iran has executed at least 21 people and detained more than 4,000 individuals on national security grounds. Human rights officials have urged Tehran to halt executions, ensure fair trials, and release those detained without due process.
These developments come against the backdrop of continued domestic unrest and tighter state control. Rights organisations argue that Iranian authorities are using the security situation to justify a wider clampdown on opposition voices, particularly following protests earlier in the year that were described as among the most significant since the 1979 revolution.
Overall, the executions highlight how the external conflict is increasingly intersecting with internal security measures, as Iran moves aggressively to counter perceived espionage threats while facing mounting international scrutiny.
