Iran has executed Babak Shahbazi, a contractor accused of spying for Israel, in a case that has drawn sharp criticism from human rights activists and intensified concerns about the country’s escalating use of the death penalty. The execution, which took place on September 16, 2025, was confirmed by Iranian state media a day later, marking the latest in a string of executions targeting individuals accused of collaborating with Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
According to Mizan, Iran’s judiciary-affiliated news agency, Shahbazi was convicted of collecting and selling sensitive information about Iranian data centers and security installations to Israeli handlers. The report claimed he used his position as a contractor installing industrial cooling devices—often in telecommunications, military, and security-related sites—to gather intelligence. Mizan alleged that Shahbazi sought $120 million in cash or digital currency for his services, asserting, “He decided to sell information to Mossad in exchange for money and shelter in foreign countries.” The agency further reported that Shahbazi boasted of having access cards to several sensitive complexes, his car being exempt from checks, and the ability to carry bombs to targeted centers, which, according to Mizan, “would make Mossad trust him after a few years.”
Shahbazi’s appeal to Iran’s Supreme Court was rejected, sealing his fate. While Iranian authorities did not specify the method of execution, hanging is the country’s typical practice for condemned prisoners. The case has become emblematic of a broader crackdown by Tehran, both in response to external threats and to internal dissent that has simmered since the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in police custody after being detained for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. That incident sparked months of protests and a violent government response, with women’s rights and economic grievances fueling ongoing unrest.
However, Shahbazi’s conviction and execution have been met with skepticism and outrage by activists and human rights organizations. Groups such as Iran Human Rights, based in Oslo, argue that the charges against Shahbazi were fabricated and that he was tortured into a false confession. They point to the fact that Shahbazi’s initial detention stemmed from his writing a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offering to join the Ukrainian military amid Russia’s war in Ukraine—a conflict in which Iran has supplied drones to Moscow. “Babak’s message to President Zelenskyy offering to help in the war against Russia was used as an example of espionage for Israel who they claim taught Babak to use Microsoft Word,” Iran Human Rights stated, highlighting the apparent absurdity of the accusation. Activists maintain that the authorities used this letter as a pretext to accuse Shahbazi of espionage for Israel, a charge that carries the death penalty in Iran.
The execution comes at a time of heightened tension between Iran and Israel. Earlier in 2025, Israel launched an air campaign against Iran, reportedly killing around 1,100 people, including numerous military commanders. Iran retaliated with missile barrages targeting Israel, escalating the decades-long shadow war between the two countries. In the wake of this conflict, Iranian authorities have intensified their efforts to root out alleged spies and collaborators. Since June 2025, at least eight people have been executed for espionage, according to the Associated Press, with nine death sentences carried out in recent months for individuals accused of assisting Mossad.
Shahbazi’s case is not an isolated incident. State media reported that he had worked alongside Esmaeil Fekri, another man executed in June 2025 on similar charges of spying for Israel. Both men were accused of leveraging their technical roles to access and relay sensitive information to foreign intelligence agencies. These executions, activists warn, are part of a broader pattern of repression aimed not only at punishing perceived enemies but also at intimidating dissenters within Iran’s borders.
The scale of Iran’s use of the death penalty in recent years has drawn international condemnation. According to a United Nations report, Iran carried out at least 975 executions in 2024—a figure described as “alarming.” Iran Human Rights reports that over 940 executions have already taken place in 2025, suggesting that the pace has not slowed. Many of these executions are for drug-related offenses, but a growing number are linked to charges of espionage, political dissent, or activities deemed threatening to the state’s stability.
The timing of Shahbazi’s execution, just days after the third anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death, has not gone unnoticed. Activists see it as part of a renewed drive by Tehran to stamp out unrest and demonstrate its resolve in the face of international criticism and domestic discontent. Iran’s economy continues to struggle under the weight of sanctions and mismanagement, and protests over women’s rights and personal freedoms remain a persistent thorn in the side of the authorities.
Iran’s government, for its part, insists that harsh measures are necessary to defend national security. Officials argue that the shadow war with Israel and ongoing threats from foreign intelligence agencies justify the crackdown. Yet, activists and observers see a different motive: the executions serve as a warning to those who might question the regime or seek external alliances, particularly as Iran’s relationship with the West remains fraught and its support for Russia in Ukraine has become increasingly controversial at home.
International reaction to Shahbazi’s execution has been muted, with Ukraine not immediately acknowledging the case. However, the story has reverberated through human rights circles, where it is seen as a stark example of the dangers faced by those who fall afoul of Iran’s security apparatus. The Associated Press quoted activists as warning that the government could conduct a wave of executions in the aftermath of its latest conflict with Israel, especially as it seeks to quell internal dissent over the economy and women’s rights.
As Iran continues to wage its shadow war with Israel and grapple with internal unrest, the fate of individuals like Babak Shahbazi remains a grim reminder of the country’s willingness to use the ultimate punishment to enforce its will. For now, the world watches as the toll of executions climbs, and the line between national security and political repression grows ever more blurred.