Iran has executed a man accused of transmitting information about an Iranian nuclear scientist to the Israeli spy agency Mossad, continuing its crackdown in the wake of its brief war with Israel.
According to Iranian state media, Roozbeh Vadi was executed by hanging on Monday after being convicted of espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel. Vadi was reportedly a member of an “important and sensitive organization” in Iran, but state-run media did not specify.
Prosecutors said Vadi traveled at least five times during his employment to Vienna, Austria, where he met with Mossad agents and transmitted information. During one of his trips, Vadi allegedly passed on information about an Iranian nuclear scientist who was eventually killed during the 12-day Israel-Iran war in June.
The execution is likely another part of Iran’s nationwide crackdown on suspected Israeli spies. Immediately following its air war with Israel, Tehran arrested and executed three men convicted of collaborating with the Jewish state.
Human rights groups and Iran experts have cast doubt on the guilt of the executed men, arguing they could have been political enemies of Tehran.
Iran’s crackdown has also resulted in hundreds of arrests. According to state-affiliated media, Iranian authorities have arrested more than 700 people since the war ended in June.
