Iran has executed a man accused of spying for Israel, marking the first such death penalty since the escalation of U.S.-Israeli military operations against Tehran. The executed individual, confirmed to hold Swedish citizenship, was identified by Iranian media as Kourosh Keyvani.
According to reports, Keyvani was accused of supplying Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency with photographs and sensitive details about sites inside Iran. Iranian authorities claim he was recruited online while living in Sweden and received training in Europe and Tel Aviv before being arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Savjbolagh area. At the time of his detention, he reportedly possessed cash, luxury vehicles, and advanced surveillance equipment.
The Swedish government strongly condemned the execution. Foreign Minister Maria Malmer described the death penalty as “inhumane, cruel and irreversible” and criticized Iran for failing to meet international legal standards. Swedish officials had repeatedly engaged with Iranian authorities over the past year, seeking due process for Keyvani. Iran’s ambassador in Stockholm was summoned in protest following the execution.
The case comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East, with the U.S. and Israel conducting military strikes against Iranian targets, including key military infrastructure. Iran has retaliated with attacks on shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on Gulf Arab states. Tehran portrays espionage cases like Keyvani’s as part of broader Western efforts to undermine its national security during the conflict.
Iran’s use of capital punishment in espionage cases has faced consistent international criticism for its opaque judicial processes, limited legal representation, and alleged confessions under duress. The execution of a foreign national is likely to further strain Iran’s diplomatic relations with Sweden and other European countries, adding to the growing international concern over the ongoing conflict in the region.
