Enemies within: Iran executes two over Mossad, IS ties

Iran has executed two individuals, one accused of spying for Israel and the other linked to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group.

The executions reported by The Associated Press, citing Iranian state media, in the aftermath of rulings by Iran’s Supreme Court. The individual accused of spying for Israel was identified as Rouzbeh Vadi, while the individual linked to IS was identified as Mehdi Asgharzadeh, according to a report in Israel National News.

Vadi was accused of providing classified information to the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency, including details regarding an Iranian nuclear scientist allegedly killed during Israeli airstrikes in June. The Iranian judiciary news site — Mizan Online — reported that Vadi allegedly met with Mossad agents five times in Vienna, Austria.

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The official IRNA news agency stated that Vadi had connections with sensitive Iranian agencies, making him a valuable asset to Mossad due to his access to critical information. Additionally, a video allegedly showing Vadi’s confession was broadcast on state TV, where he claimed to have cooperated with Israel for financial compensation; however, it remains unclear whether the confession was made under duress.

Asgharzadeh, the individual linked to IS, was convicted of plotting sabotage within Iran. Mizan Online reported that he had undergone military training in Syria and Iraq as an IS member before illegally entering Iran with a four-man team. The other members of his team were reportedly killed in a confrontation with Iranian security forces.

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The executions followed confirmation by Iran’s Supreme Court that the sentences from lower courts were upheld and that full legal procedures were followed in each case. Iran has a history of accusing Israel of sabotage and frequently arrests and executes individuals accused of spying for Israel.

In the past year, Iran has claimed to have executed multiple individuals for allegedly spying for Israel. These include a “terrorist” involved in a drone attack on a defence ministry site, four individuals who allegedly met with Mossad chief David Barnea and trained in Africa, and an “Israeli Mossad spy” in December 2023. In May, Iran executed Pedram Madani, 41, who was also convicted of spying for Israel.

These executions highlight the ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel, as well as Iran’s efforts to combat both Israeli espionage and terrorist activities within its borders.