Iran’s judiciary has announced the execution of Kourosh Keyvani on the morning of Wednesday, March 18 (27 Esfand), following the confirmation of his death sentence by the Supreme Court. Keyvani had been arrested during the 12-day war earlier this year on charges of espionage for Israel, marking the latest in a series of executions tied to alleged intelligence cooperation with Israeli agencies.
According to Iranian state media, Keyvani was detained on June 16 (26 Khordad) by the Intelligence Organization of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in a villa in Savojbolagh County. Authorities claim he was arrested in possession of €30,000 in cash along with advanced espionage, intelligence, and satellite communication equipment.
His first court session reportedly took place on December 8 (17 Azar). The judiciary accused Keyvani of providing “images and information of sensitive locations” inside Iran to Israel, a charge frequently used in cases involving alleged collaboration with foreign intelligence services.
According to a report published by Tasnim News Agency, Iranian authorities alleged that Keyvani had initiated contact with Israeli intelligence networks in Sweden in 2023, and subsequently underwent two years of training by Mossad operatives in Europe and Israel. He was reportedly deployed to Iran in April–May 2025 (Ordibehesht 1404) to carry out operational tasks. Authorities further claimed that his activities included conducting reconnaissance of potential targets, transmitting coordinates of sensitive sites, and installing electronic systems and equipment in locations designated by Israeli intelligence. These allegations were presented as evidence of a coordinated espionage operation.
Keyvani is one of several individuals executed in recent months under similar charges of “spying for Israel,” signaling an escalation in Iran’s internal security response amid heightened regional tensions.
On January 7 (17 Dey), Iran announced the execution of Ali Ardestani on espionage charges.
Earlier, on December 20 (29 Azar), Aqil Keshavarz, an architecture student, was executed for allegedly photographing military and security sites.
On September 29 (7 Mehr), Bahram Choobi Asl was executed, described by authorities as a “trusted and reliable spy” for Israel.
Prior to that, on September 17 (26 Shahrivar), Babak Shahbazi was executed after being arrested and tried two years earlier on similar accusations.
The growing number of executions tied to espionage accusations highlights a broader pattern of intensified domestic crackdowns, particularly in the context of ongoing conflict with Israel and heightened fears of internal infiltration. Despite the grave stakes on death penalty cases, reputable human rights observers have raised concerns that due process and transparency have been sharply limited in cases involving alleged espionage. At a time of escalating regional conflict, these executions reflect the Iranian government’s effort to demonstrate control, deter perceived internal threats, and reinforce its security posture, while also drawing increased scrutiny from international observers and human rights organizations.