Iran says it has hanged agent working for Israel over sabotage in protests

Iran hangs Erfan Kiani, a self-described 'Mossad operative,' for vandalism and violence during recent protests

Iran said it had hanged an ​Iranian working for ‌Israeli intelligence on Saturday for vandalism and ​violence during nationwide ​protests this year, the ⁠semi-official Tasnim news ​agency reported.

It said Erfan ​Kiani, a “hired thug of Mossad,” had engaged in ​the destruction and ​arson of public and private ‌property, ⁠spreading fear and terror across the central city of ​Isfahan, and ​wielding ⁠a machete. He was hanged ​early in the ​morning ⁠after his sentence was confirmed by ⁠the ​Supreme Court ​and following legal procedures, Tasnim ​said.

Read: Iran says dual national held for espionage is Swedish

Iran executed a man in December 2025 on charges of spying for Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad. This brings the number of convicts Iran has executed on espionage charges since June this year to 10.

The executed man had been identified as Aghil Keshavarz, a 27-year-old architecture student. Keshavarz was arrested by soldiers earlier this year in the northwestern city of Urmia, reportedly while taking photographs of a military headquarters.

According to investigative authorities, the accused confessed to taking these photographs for Israel, for which he had received money from Mossad. Iran’s Supreme Court was informed that Keshavarz carried out more than 200 missions for Israeli intelligence in various cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Urmia and Shahroud. For these missions, Keshavarz was paid in cryptocurrency after completing each assignment, according to authorities.