Iran Executes Two Men Convicted of Spying for Israel's Mossad

On August 3, 2026, Iranian authorities executed Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat by hanging following convictions for treason and espionage on behalf of Israel's Mossad. Iran's judiciary reported that the men transmitted images, video, and precise coordinates of military and security facilities using location apps during the June 2025 12-Day War and the ongoing US-Israel conflict that began in February 2026. The executions come amid a sharp surge in capital punishment in Iran, drawing heavy criticism from UN experts and international human rights organizations regarding coerced confessions and lack of due process.

// Background

Executions in Iran have surged significantly following large-scale US-Israeli military strikes on February 28, 2026, and the prior 12-Day War in June 2025. Human rights groups reported 1,639 executions in Iran in 2025—the highest annual total since 1989—and at least 433 executions in 2026 prior to this event.

// Key Developments

• Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat were executed by hanging on August 3, 2026, after their death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court of Iran.
• The Iranian judiciary accused the men of using location-finding apps like Google Maps to transmit sensitive coordinates and images of military sites to Mossad.
• Intelligence officers from the IRGC reportedly identified the suspects by monitoring foreign media outlets and technical evidence on Behzad's mobile phone.
• Human rights organizations and UN experts criticized the executions, highlighting broader concerns over forced confessions and Iran's rising execution rate.