Tag: Espionage

Qazvin: Woman Arrested on “Espionage” Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News
Espionage, HRANA, Qazvin

HRANA – A woman in Qazvin has been arrested on charges of “espionage through sending videos and sensitive information to foreign media outlets.” At the same time, a video containing this citizen’s forced confessions has also been published, although the circumstances under which it was recorded remain unclear.

According to Fars News Agency, a woman was detained over what has been described as “espionage through sending videos and sensitive information to foreign media outlets.”

Simultaneously, a video of this citizen’s forced confessions was released, though the conditions under which it was recorded are not known.

The report does not provide further details, including the identity of the accused or her place of detention.

It is worth noting that the U.S. and Israeli military attacks on Iran began on February 28, 2026, and on April 8, 2026, a two-week ceasefire between the parties was announced. Since the beginning of these attacks, HRANA has been documenting and recording related incidents across different parts of the country on a daily basis. For further information, readers may refer to HRANA’s detailed reports covering the forty days of the conflict.

Kourosh Keyvani Executed on Charges of “Espionage”

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Executions, News
Espionage, IRGC Intelligence, Kourosh Keyvani, کوروش کیوانی

HRANA – The judiciary’s media center has announced the execution of Kourosh Keyvani on charges of “spying for Israel.” The sentence was carried out at dawn today, Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

According to Mizan News Agency, Keyvani was identified and arrested on the fourth day of the “12-day war” by the IRGC Intelligence Organization at a villa in Savojbolagh County. At the time of his arrest, authorities reportedly discovered and confiscated €30,000 in cash, a Padra pickup truck, a cross motorcycle, as well as various sophisticated espionage, intelligence, and satellite communication equipment.

In relation to this case, it has been claimed that in 2023, after registering his details through an online advertisement link for group travel, Keyvani was identified by Israeli security services in Sweden. It is alleged that an intelligence officer, by establishing a friendly online relationship, obtained information about his interests, financial status, family connections, and economic difficulties.

He was ultimately sentenced to death on charges of espionage through sending images and information from sensitive locations in the country. The sentence was carried out this morning after being upheld by the Supreme Court.

The statement did not provide further details, including the location where the execution took place.

According to HRA’s annual report on the state of human rights in Iran, in 2025, at least 2,063 people were executed in Iran. This represents a 119% increase compared to 2024. In many cases, due to secrecy, prisoners were reportedly denied even a final visit with their families.

Iranian–Swedish Dual National Arrested in Karaj on Espionage Charges

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Dual national, Espionage, Karaj

HRANA – The spokesperson of Iran’s Judiciary announced the arrest of an Iranian-Swedish dual national in Karaj, stating that the individual has been charged with espionage for Israel during the 12-day war with Iran, according to Mehr News Agency. According to him, the case is under review in Branch 2 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, and a verdict will be issued soon.

Speaking at a press conference today, the Judiciary spokesperson said: “The defendant is a dual national who obtained Swedish citizenship in 2020 and had been residing in that country. In 2023, he was recruited by Israeli intelligence services and, after receiving training in six European countries, most recently traveled to Israel two weeks before entering Iran.”

Asghar Jahangir added: “He entered Iran one month before the start of the war and was staying in a villa on the outskirts of Karaj. He was carrying electronic espionage equipment, which was identified by security agents, and he was arrested during the 12-day war. After his arrest, the defendant confessed during interrogations to spying for Israel.”

He concluded by stating: “The defendant’s case is under review in Branch Two of the Karaj Revolutionary Court, and a verdict will be issued soon.”

Jahangir did not disclose the identity or place of detention of the arrested individual.

While combating espionage is not, in itself, considered a violation of human rights, given the Iranian government’s record of instrumentalizing such charges to target political opponents, claims of this nature, especially when details and judicial procedures remain unclear—are consistently met with skepticism.

Dual National Accused of Espionage

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News, Other
Alborz, Espionage, HRANA

HRANA – The Chief Justice of Alborz Province announced that an indictment has been issued in the case of an Iranian citizen who also holds citizenship of a European country, stating that the case is now open at the Karaj Revolutionary Court.

According to Mizan, the Chief Justice of Alborz Province stated that this Iranian citizen, who also holds the nationality of a European country, is accused of espionage for Israel. The case is currently under review by Branch 2 of the Karaj Revolutionary Court.

Hossein Fazeli-Harikandi, without mentioning the accused person’s identity, claimed: “After two years of communication and training by Mossad officers in the capitals of several European countries and the occupied territories, the defendant entered the country via air about one month before the 12-day war to carry out a mission.”

According to the Chief Justice, the arrest was carried out by Alborz IRGC Intelligence agents on the fourth day of the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. Fazeli-Harikandi also claimed that “certain complex espionage equipment and items” were discovered at the time of arrest.

Although combating espionage is not considered a human rights violation in itself, the Iranian government’s history of using such accusations as a tool against political dissidents, and the lack of clarity regarding the details and judicial process, has led such claims to be viewed with consistent skepticism.

Individual Sentenced to Death in Urmia On Charges of “Espionage”

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Executions, News
Espionage, Mizan, Urmia

The judiciary’s news agency, Mizan, has reported that a citizen in Urmia has been sentenced to death by the Revolutionary Court on charges of “espionage for Israel.” Just a day earlier, the judiciary spokesperson announced that three others in Urmia had also been sentenced to death in a separate case on similar charges.

According to the judiciary’s media center, the accused had been under investigation for alleged “espionage for Israel and collaboration with the Mossad intelligence agency.” Following an indictment, the case was submitted to the Revolutionary Court in Urmia, where the defendant ultimately received a preliminary death sentence. The report did not disclose the identity of the accused.

In the separate case, the judiciary spokesperson claimed that, beyond “espionage,” the three other individuals were allegedly involved in “transferring assassination equipment” intended for a senior Iranian nuclear program official, under the cover of alcohol smuggling.

Although espionage charges are not classified as human rights violations, such accusations are often met with skepticism due to Iran’s history of leveraging espionage allegations against political dissidents, especially in cases where legal proceedings and case details remain opaque.

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Iran Sentences Three to Death on Alleged Espionage and Assassination Equipment Charges

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Executions, News
Asghar Jahangir, Espionage, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh

According to Mizan, the judiciary’s news agency, three individuals have been sentenced to death on charges of “espionage.”

Judiciary Spokesperson Asghar Jahangir reported that eight individuals were initially arrested in West Azerbaijan Province in connection with the case. Out of these, three were brought to trial and sentenced to death on espionage charges.

Jahangir further alleged that these individuals used alcohol smuggling as a cover to transport “assassination equipment” meant for Mohsen Fakhrizadeh Mahabadi, the former Deputy Defense Minister and a senior figure in Iran’s nuclear program. Fakhrizadeh was killed on November 27, 2020, in an attack involving a car explosion and gunfire exchange between his security team and assailants.

The defendants’ case is currently under appeal, and Jahangir indicated that a separate case is also underway regarding other individuals allegedly linked to Fakhrizadeh’s assassination. However, he provided no additional details.

Though espionage prosecution is generally outside the scope of human rights concerns, Iran’s history of leveraging such charges as political tools often raises skepticism about the legitimacy of these accusations.

Austrian National Sentenced to Seven Years and Six Months

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Freedom of Expression, News, Other
Austrian foreign ministry, Espionage

In a statement, the Austrian foreign ministry revealed that Iran’s judicial officials sentenced an Austrian national to seven-and-a-half years in prison “, with two years of probation being waived in the case of good behavior.” This individual was arrested last October.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, an Austrian man was sentenced to seven years and six months for alleged spying.

In reaction, Vienna summoned the Iranian ambassador to express its strenuous objection to this conviction.

This statement mentioned “espionage” as the charge against this Austrian convict. “Two years of this sentence” may be “waived in the case of good behavior,” the ministry added.

Earlier, in October 2022, the Austrian foreign ministry disclosed the arrest of an Austrian man in Iran and asked Iranian authorities for an explanation. At the time, Iranian authorities asserted that this arrest was not related to the concurrent nationwide protests.

 

13 People Arrested for Allegedly Espionage

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News, Other
Espionage, Golestan, Isfahan, Mizan Online, Tehran, West Azerbaijan, Yazd

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence announced the arrest of 13 people accused of “espionage” in Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, Golestan and West Azerbaijan Provinces.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan Online News Agency, 13 individuals were arrested for allegedly “espionage.”

The Ministry of intelligence claimed that in Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, Golestan and West Azerbaijan Provinces, 23 individuals working for Mossad (the intelligence agency of Israel) were detected, of which 13 people residing inside the country were apprehended before they could take any action. The Ministry claimed that the “head of this spy network” has been identified as “Sirus,” residing in one of the European Countries. This report did not disclose the detainees’ identities.

Although the prosecution of individuals for espionage is not considered a violation of human rights, there are concerns about the validity of these allegations due to the frequent use of such accusations by Iran’s regime in order to suppress its political dissidents and due to the ambiguities in legal proceedings and the lack of transparency about such legal cases.

Three European Nationals Charged with Espionage

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News, Other
detained Belgian, detained French, Espionage, Mizan

The spokesperson of Iran’s judiciary announced that three detained foreign nationals, two French and one Belgian, have been indicted on allegedly “espionage, assembly and collusion against national security.”

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan, two French nationals and one Belgian have been charged with “espionage, assembly and collusion against national security.”

This judicial official did not reveal these individuals’ identities.

 

 Five Individuals Arrested for Espionage 

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News, Other
Espionage, Israel, Mossad

The Intelligence Protection Organization of Iranian Police announced the arrest of five individuals for espionage.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists, quoting Mizan News, five individuals were arrested and accused of espionage for the “association with the national intelligence agency of Israel.”

Without revealing the identities of these individuals and providing further details, the above-mentioned agency announced: “These individuals were gathering information from sensitive areas. More than gathering information, they were committing arson, writing anti-regime slogans on walls and were training for sabotage and armed operations.”

There are serious concerns about the validity of espionage allegations due to the frequent use of such accusations by the Iranian intelligence officials, which is aimed at suppressing its opponents. Such claims are often ambiguous in legal proceedings due to the lack of transparency and their political nature.