Who Was Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh? Executed By Iran After Allegedly Spying For Israel's Mossad

Tehran: As the Israel-Iran conflict stretches into its 11th day, Iran on Monday, June 23, executed Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh, a man it accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad and allegedly collaborating with Iran International, a Persian-language news outlet based in London.

According to Iran’s judiciary, Shayesteh was convicted of "intelligence cooperation with the Zionist regime" and hanged early on Monday. The announcement came just a day after authorities declared a renewed push to accelerate cases involving espionage and cooperation with Israel, which Iran labels its top adversary.

Who is Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh?

Shayesteh’s name emerged in Iranian media in the context of espionage and subversion. State officials claim he worked with Israel’s Mossad, the country’s foreign intelligence agency. He was also accused of establishing links with Iran International, a UK-based TV channel that Iran has previously branded a “terrorist organisation”.

This association dates back to the 2022 protests that erupted across Iran after the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, detained for allegedly violating Iran’s strict hijab rules. The government had accused Iran International of fuelling unrest and spreading anti-state propaganda during the protests.

Though Iran did not disclose specific evidence of Shayesteh’s alleged espionage, officials reported he had shared intelligence with hostile entities. These charges ultimately led to a trial and his execution by hanging.

However, some social media users and activists have disputed the Iranian state’s version of events, claiming Mohammad Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh was not a spy but an innocent protester with disabilities.

Tweets alleging state abuse went viral, with users saying Shayesteh was the family’s sole breadwinner, suffered from both mental and physical disabilities, and was tortured into a forced confession. One tweet claimed he was convicted “based solely on an empty pistol magazine and a can of pepper spray.” His death, users argue, was “a calculated execution, buried under headlines of war, while the regime silences and kills Iranians.”

Another post described him as “a disabled man… sentenced to death after months of torture, no lawyer access, and a forced confession.” Both tweets call for international attention and justice, with the latter urging, "Don’t let them execute him in silence. Be his voice. Demand justice before it’s too late.”

Iran’s Crackdown on ‘Zionist Agents’

The timing of Shayesteh’s execution, amid an escalating regional conflict and a rising body count from Israeli strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, is being seen as part of a larger domestic crackdown. On Sunday, June 22, Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei declared that security-related cases involving alleged ties to Israel would now be processed “more swiftly”.

Ejei, in a televised interview, said that individuals acting as the “fifth column of the enemy” would face the full force of the state. Shayesteh’s hanging came just one day after another alleged Mossad agent, Majid Mosayebi, was also executed.

According toa report by Amnesty International, Iran remains the world’s second-highest executor after China.

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