Iran hangs three men accused of Mossad links, day after ceasefire with Israel

Iran on June 24 executed three men convicted of spying for Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, just a day after a US-brokered ceasefire temporarily paused hostilities between Iran and Israel.

The men — Idris Ali, Azad Shojai, and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul — were hanged at Urmia Prison in northwestern Iran, according to the judiciary’s Mizan news agency. Iranian authorities said the trio had collaborated with Israeli agents, smuggled equipment for targeted killings, and gathered intelligence for Mossad.

The executions follow a recent wave of arrests and trials linked to espionage during the 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel that began on June 13.

Since the outbreak of hostilities, Iran has executed at least six people over alleged ties with Israel, including Mohammad-Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh and Esmail Fekri.

State media reports indicate over 700 individuals have been detained for suspected links to Israel, as Iran intensifies its internal crackdown in parallel with external negotiations.

The timing of the executions has drawn international attention. They were carried out just 24 hours after the United States, with mediation support from Qatar, announced a ceasefire agreement between the two rivals.

The deal is seen as a fragile pause to a conflict that involved missile exchanges and airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites.

Despite the truce, Iranian officials have made clear that internal threats will continue to be dealt with “firmly and decisively.” Human rights groups have raised concerns about the fairness of trials in such high-profile espionage cases.

Iran has historically ranked among the highest in global execution numbers, with at least 975 executions in 2024 alone.

US envoy Steve Witkoff said peace talks with Iran were “promising,” but Tuesday’s executions underscored the volatile backdrop against which these negotiations are taking place.