Iran has hanged six people, most prominently Bahman Choobiasl, whose public trial was televised, and which the Iranian state media said was the leading Israeli spy. This move highlights Iran’s increasingly aggressive stance against perceived threats, particularly in the wake of recent conflicts and protests that have shaken the nation.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have labeled Iran as the world’s second most prolific executioner, behind only China. Yet the Iranian government has drastically increased its use of capital punishment. This substantial hike is a direct response to the late June war and continued protests over rising economic tensions, women’s rights, and the calling for a regime change. According to reports, Iran has executed the most number of people during this period of turmoil.
Bahman Choobiasl was executed for his supposed collaboration with Israel’s Mossad, where he purportedly worked on sensitive telecommunications projects. State media described him as “one of the most important spies for Israel in Iran.”
Iran’s theocracy just executed a respected Kurdish freedom-fighter Saman Mohammadi. He was convicted of waging war against God, “Moharebeh,” both with Choobiasl. Mohammadi had an extensive violent criminal history. Together with the 2009 assassination of a Friday prayers imam, several armed robberies and kidnappings—including the 2009 murder of a conscript—maybe he was sent to school. Despite his protests, Iran’s Supreme Court steadfastly rejected his death sentence for the imaginary crime of “corruption on Earth.”
The increase in all of Iran’s executions has been meteoric. In 2025 so far, more than 1,000 executions have been reported by the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights and the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran. Time and again, the Iranian government has connected what it calls ‘separatist and terrorist’ groups with its decades-old nemesis, Israel.
Tensions between Iran and Israel grew dangerously high. This came on the heels of unprecedented Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites during previous conflicts this year. Iranian citizens are currently bearing the brunt of an economy further strained by UN sanctions. They struggle under fears of deepening economic despair and the specter of war.
“one of the most important spies for Israel in Iran” – Mizan
