Iran has executed Babak Shahbazi, a man it accused of spying for Israel, in a case that human rights groups insist was built on a coerced confession. The announcement came Wednesday through the judiciary&rsquo;s Mizan news agency, which alleged Shahbazi had passed sensitive data on Iranian security facilities to Israeli operatives.
Activists, however, maintain Shahbazi&rsquo;s confession was extracted under torture and that his execution is part of a widening crackdown in the wake of Iran&rsquo;s brief but deadly conflict with Israel earlier this year.
Shahbazi&rsquo;s story took a dramatic turn after he allegedly wrote a letter to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, offering to assist Ukraine in its war against Russia. Rights monitors say that message was twisted by Tehran into an espionage case, with authorities absurdly claiming that &ldquo;Israel taught him how to use Microsoft Word.&rdquo;
The organization Iran Human Rights had warned that Shahbazi&rsquo;s life was in imminent danger. &ldquo;Babak&rsquo;s message to President Zelenskyy offering to help in the war against Russia was used as an example of espionage for Israel,&rdquo; the group said. Iran&rsquo;s official statement made no mention of that link.
Authorities did not disclose the method of execution, though most death sentences in Iran are carried out by hanging.
The execution adds to growing concerns over Iran&rsquo;s use of espionage charges to silence dissent. Since the 12-day war with Israel, Tehran has executed at least eight people on spying allegations. That conflict saw over 1,100 people killed in Israeli airstrikes inside Iran, including senior military figures, while Iran retaliated with waves of missile attacks.
For human rights advocates, Shahbazi&rsquo;s death underscores the dangers faced by Iranians accused of ties to foreign governments. For Tehran, it is another public signal that it will not tolerate perceived collaboration with Israel or opposition to its stance in the Ukraine war.
Either way, the case has become another flashpoint in Iran&rsquo;s tightening grip on dissent, leaving Shahbazi&rsquo;s execution as both a tragedy and a warning.

Iran Executes Man for Spying Amid Torture Claims

Activists say Babak Shahbazi’s confession was forced; linked to Ukraine war stance

Iran Executes Man for Spying Amid Torture Claims

Activists say Babak Shahbazi’s confession was forced; linked to Ukraine war stance

September 17, 2025 | 18:31 IST