HRANA – The Judiciary’s Media Center announced the execution of Ehsan Afrashteh, a graduate with a master’s degree in civil engineering and a network and information technology specialist. Mr. Afrashteh had previously been sentenced to death on charges of “spying for Israel,” and the sentence was carried out at dawn today, May 13, 2026.
According to Mizan News Agency, Ehsan Afrashteh was hanged this morning, Wednesday. The Judiciary’s Media Center claimed that Mr. Afrashteh had cooperated with the Mossad intelligence service and, in exchange for money, provided information to the agency. It was also alleged that after establishing initial contact with Mossad agents in Turkey, he received security and intelligence training and continued his cooperation.
The judiciary further claimed that after being employed by a company affiliated with military institutions, Mr. Afrashteh transferred information regarding employees, organizational structures, and projects at his workplace to Mossad. The report also stated that during a trip to Nepal, he received training in secure communications, encryption, intelligence gathering, and documentation.
The Judiciary’s Media Center did not specify the prison where the execution was carried out.
HRANA had previously reported that in November 2025, following tensions in Ward 7 of Evin Prison, this prisoner was transferred to Security Ward 241 under the supervision of the Ministry of Intelligence. At the time, an informed source told HRANA that forced confessions had been recorded from Ehsan Afrashteh and that he had denied the accusations against him. The source also reported the confiscation of part of his and his family’s assets, as well as pressure and threats against his family members.
In June of 2025, Afrashteh was sentenced to death by Branch 15 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court, presided over by Judge Abolghasem Salavati, on charges of “espionage.” HRANA had also previously reported that after months of being held in solitary confinement, he had been transferred to the general ward of Evin Prison.
Mr. Afrashteh was arrested in 2024 after returning to Iran from Turkey.
Ehsan Afrashteh, aged 32, was originally from Isfahan and lived in Tehran. He held a master’s degree in civil engineering and worked as a network and information technology specialist.
