Overview
- Iran carried out the death sentence on Mehdi Farid, a former employee of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, after a conviction for spying for Israel.
- Judicial outlet Mizan said Farid tried to plant malware in a secret defense network under Mossad direction and shared facility layouts, security procedures, and staff data, and it reported he confessed in court.
- Rights groups say authorities arrested Farid in winter 2022 and held him in Tehran’s Evin Prison after an initial 10-year sentence from Revolutionary Court Branch 26 was later replaced with the death penalty.
- The NGO Hengaw, citing a source, said Farid refused to work with people tied to Israel and voluntarily informed the agency’s security arm about the approach and money he received, yet he was charged with disclosure and collaboration.
- Farid’s execution follows Iran’s March execution of Kurosh Keyvani on similar accusations, placing this case in a broader pattern of prosecutions for alleged cooperation with Israel.