Iran Executes Man Accused of Mossad Ties After Supreme Court Approval

Overview

• Judiciary outlet Mizan said Erfan Kiani was hanged after the Supreme Court upheld his sentence, describing him as a Mossad operative during January unrest in Isfahan.
• Officials accused Kiani of arson, attacking officers, using Molotov cocktails, and spreading fear during the protests, without presenting public evidence.
• The execution follows the April 23 hanging of another man convicted of belonging to a banned opposition group, according to press reports.
• Iranian authorities claim January’s protests were stirred by Israel, the United States, and the exiled People’s Mujahedin group, framing recent cases as national security threats.
• Rights groups say Iran is the second‑largest user of the death penalty after China, and activists have long criticized closed-door trials that limit a defense.