Iran has executed a nuclear scientist convicted of espionage for Israel, marking the latest escalation in Tehran’s crackdown on alleged foreign intelligence operations.
Roozbeh Vadi, a former expert at Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation, was hanged after being found guilty of leaking classified information to Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency. According to Mizan, the Iranian judiciary’s news outlet, Vadi had shared details about another scientist later killed in Israeli airstrikes during Operation Rising Lion in June.
Operation Rising Lion and Its Aftermath
The execution follows Israel’s unprecedented 12-day bombing campaign targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. The strikes, which Israeli officials dubbed Operation Rising Lion, reportedly killed at least 12 senior nuclear scientists, high-ranking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, and hundreds of others.
Mossad’s years of intelligence-gathering allegedly enabled the precision attacks, which included smuggled drone components and explosives. In response, Iran has intensified its hunt for suspected spies, executing multiple individuals accused of collaborating with foreign agencies.
Wave of Executions and Crackdowns
Vadi’s hanging is part of a broader purge by Iranian authorities. In recent weeks, at least three others have been executed for allegedly smuggling "assassination equipment" into Iran on Israel’s behalf. Tehran claims it is locked in a "relentless battle" against Western and Israeli intelligence networks, including the CIA and MI6.
However, human rights groups warn that many of these cases lack due process.
"These executions are meant to terrorize the public and distract from the regime’s failures," said Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam of Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO). "The accused are denied fair trials, forced into confessions, and barred from proper legal representation."
International Condemnation
Iran remains one of the world’s top executioners, second only to China, according to Amnesty International. The recent executions have drawn sharp criticism from activists, who accuse Tehran of using espionage charges to silence dissent and consolidate power after the devastating Israeli strikes.
As tensions between Iran and Israel simmer, the execution of
Vadi underscores Tehran’s determination to root out perceived infiltrators—even
as questions linger over the fairness of its judicial process.