Mizan News Agency, affiliated with Iran’s judiciary, reported Monday morning that political prisoner Erfan Shokourzadeh had been executed on charges of “cooperation with the US intelligence service and the Mossad.”
According to the state-affiliated outlet, Shokourzadeh had worked with “one of the country’s scientific organizations in the field of satellites” and allegedly provided classified information to what authorities described as “enemy intelligence services.”
Mizan did not identify the scientific institution involved and provided no independent evidence or detailed documentation supporting the accusations against him.
Iranian authorities have also not released further information regarding the judicial process, the timing of his arrest, or the legal proceedings leading to the execution.
The execution comes amid a broader wave of espionage-related arrests and prosecutions announced by the Islamic Republic in recent months, particularly involving allegations of cooperation with Israel and Western intelligence agencies.
Human rights organizations and international observers have repeatedly expressed concern over the handling of national security cases in Iran and have called for greater transparency in judicial proceedings.
Analysts say the increasing number of cases involving accusations of “spying” and “cooperation with Mossad” reflects escalating regional intelligence tensions amid ongoing confrontation between Iran, Israel, and the United States.
Experts also note that the public announcement of such executions can serve not only as a judicial measure, but as part of a broader state security message aimed at deterrence during periods of heightened geopolitical pressure.
The lack of publicly available evidence and limited transparency surrounding the case are likely to intensify international scrutiny over Iran’s handling of politically sensitive prosecutions.
