Iran Executes 3 Mossad Spies, Arrests 700 Suspected Israel Collaborators in Spy Crackdown

TEHRAN, IRAN — In one of the most sweeping internal security operations in recent years, Iranian authorities have executed three men convicted of collaborating with Israel’s intelligence agency, Mossad. The executions took place early Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in Urmia Prison, West Azerbaijan province, and were swiftly followed by the disclosure that over 700 individuals have been arrested across the country over the past 12 days for allegedly aiding Israel.

The executed individuals were identified as Azad Shojaei, Edris Aali, and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul—an Iraqi national. According to the Iranian judiciary and state media, the trio was convicted of smuggling surveillance and assassination equipment into Iran for use in covert Mossad operations aimed at sabotaging the country’s infrastructure and targeting individuals linked to Iran’s military establishment.

The Iranian judiciary, through its official news outlet Mizan, claimed that the men were part of a “terror network” with connections to Israeli operatives. Officials said the network had been under surveillance for months, culminating in their arrest, trial, and eventual sentencing. The judiciary also announced that three other men were executed earlier this month on similar charges, bringing the total number of executions for alleged espionage-related offenses to six since June 16.

The mass arrests—more than 700 individuals across multiple provinces—mark a significant expansion of Iran’s counter-espionage campaign. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij paramilitary force have reportedly intensified security operations, establishing checkpoints and conducting targeted raids on suspected Mossad-linked cells.

Security sources say those detained are accused of passing intelligence to Israeli operatives, smuggling military-grade drones, and plotting sabotage missions. In a televised statement earlier this week, Iranian officials warned that anyone found to be collaborating with foreign intelligence services would face the “maximum penalty under law.”

The crackdown comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, following a series of suspected Israeli airstrikes on Iranian military infrastructure and reports of an Israeli espionage network uncovered within Iranian territory. The execution of foreign-linked operatives and the sweeping arrests appear to be part of Iran’s efforts to reassert control and deter further infiltration.

While Iranian officials describe the operations as vital to national security, human rights organizations have raised alarms over the pace of executions and the apparent lack of due process. Amnesty International and other groups have condemned the crackdown, warning that many of the accused may not have received fair trials and that some confessions may have been obtained under duress.

The international community is closely watching the developments, particularly amid ongoing diplomatic discussions over Iran’s nuclear program and regional security. Analysts warn that the latest actions could further complicate efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East.

As of press time, the Iranian judiciary has not announced whether further executions are imminent, but sources within the intelligence community suggest that investigations into suspected collaborators are still underway.