Iran has executed a man accused of ties to Israel and membership of a banned opposition group, in what observers describe as an intensifying crackdown amid ongoing tensions in the region.
The country’s judiciary confirmed that Sultan-Ali Shirzadi-Fakhr was hanged on Thursday after being found guilty of belonging to the outlawed People’s Mujahedin Organisation and allegedly collaborating with Israeli intelligence.
According to a report by the judiciary’s official outlet, Mizan Online, the convict was also charged with a capital offence commonly described in Iran as “waging war against God,” over his alleged involvement in activities deemed hostile to the Islamic Republic.
Authorities did not disclose details of his arrest, though it was indicated that he had spent some time living in Spain.
The execution comes amid a surge in capital punishments in recent weeks, as Iran continues to clamp down on individuals linked to anti-government protests and opposition groups during heightened hostilities involving Israel and the United States.
Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday that Tehran had suspended plans to execute eight women arrested over earlier protests following his call for their release.
However, Iran’s judiciary dismissed the assertion as false, insisting that the women were never facing execution.
The latest development underscores growing concerns over the use of capital punishment in Iran, particularly against individuals accused of political or security-related offences.