Iran’s judiciary has carried out another execution tied to alleged links with the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK/PMOI), continuing a pattern that has intensified since the outbreak of the recent war with the United States and Israel. According to the judiciary’s official outlet, Mizan News Agency, Sultan-Ali Shirzadi was executed on charges of membership in the MEK and alleged cooperation with Israeli intelligence services. Authorities maintain that the sentence was implemented following the completion of formal legal procedures and confirmation by the Supreme Court.
Publicly available information about Shirzadi remains extremely limited. Iranian authorities describe him as a longtime affiliate of the MEK, claiming he left Iran in 1987 and later joined the group in Iraq. Officials further allege that he took part in military operations during the Iran-Iraq War, including Operation Forough Javidan and Chelcheragh.
As in similar cases, the prosecution appears to have relied in part on statements attributed to the defendant, though details regarding how these statements were obtained have not been disclosed. Human rights observers have consistently raised concerns about coerced confessions, lack of transparency, and restricted access to independent legal counsel in such proceedings.
Shirzadi is reportedly the ninth individual executed on accusations tied to the MEK since the start of the current conflict. The broader use of capital punishment has also expanded beyond opposition-related cases, with executions linked to alleged espionage for Israel and connections to past protest movements increasing during the wartime period, even as a temporary ceasefire remains in place.
Independent verification of the charges, evidence, or judicial process in this case is not possible. However, the pace and context of these executions have drawn growing scrutiny, with rights groups warning that capital punishment is being used in an increasingly securitized environment where due process protections appear limited.