Iranian authorities executed Kourosh Keyvani on charges of spying for the Mossad and gathering intelligence on sensitive sites. Human rights groups and opposition media noted a lack of due process, framing the execution as part of a broader campaign of state intimidation.
The Islamic Republic of Iran executed Iranian citizen Kourosh Keyvani on Wednesday morning on charges of espionage, according to widespread reports across Farsi-language media. The execution coincides with a period of severe regional escalation, following massive Israeli military strikes on Iranian targets on March 16 and a reported domestic crackdown on alleged collaborators.
The execution was initially announced by Mizan News Agency, the official outlet of the Islamic Republic's judiciary. According to Iran International, a prominent opposition-aligned network, Keyvani was executed specifically on charges of "spying for Israel." The news was also briefly carried by Akhbar Jang | Iran | Afghanistan, a channel focused on regional conflict.
Iranian domestic agencies alleged that Keyvani operated as a spy for the Mossad. DW Persian, Germany's state-owned broadcaster known for its human rights-focused coverage, reported that the state accused Keyvani of preparing "images and information of sensitive locations of the country" for Israel.
According to the domestic reports summarized by these outlets, the state's narrative includes the following claims: Keyvani was identified and arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization at a villa in Savojbolagh county. Authorities claimed to have confiscated "30,000 euros in cash and various complex espionage devices and equipment" from him at the time of his capture.
Epoch Times Persian, an independent outlet, corroborated that the state accused him of handing over the sensitive information during a "12-day war" between the Islamic Republic and Israel.Independent and opposition outlets highlighted the opacity of the Iranian judicial system regarding the execution. Epoch Times Persian noted that "no information about the judicial process and details of Kourosh Keyvani's case has been published so far."
Furthermore, DW Persian provided context regarding the regime's broader use of capital punishment, noting that human rights organizations have repeatedly warned that Iran uses executions as "a tool to suppress and intimidate opponents." This execution aligns with recent actions by the Iranian judiciary, which recently began confiscating the property of citizens accused of collaborating with the enemy amid ongoing military clashes.
The Farsi sources refer to Keyvani's actions and arrest taking place during a '12-day war' between Iran and Israel. DW specifically notes his arrest occurred on the 'fourth day' of this war, on 'Khordad 26' (mid-June). No further context on the specific date of this '12-day war' is provided in the texts.