Iran Executes Man Accused of Spying for Israel and U.S. Amid Protest Crackdown

Ahmed Mohammed 06/04/2026
The execution chamber room in Abu Ghraib, Iraq on 1 May, 2003 [Yves GELLIE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images]
The execution chamber room in Abu Ghraib, Iraq on 1 May, 2003 [Yves GELLIE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images]

Iran’s judiciary announced Monday that it has executed a man convicted of working with Israel and the United States during anti-government protests earlier this year.

According to Mizan Online, the judiciary’s official outlet, “Ali Fahim, one of the enemy elements in the terrorist riots of Dey (January)... was hanged after the Supreme Court reviewed the case and confirmed the verdict.”

The protests, which began in late December over rising living costs, quickly escalated into nationwide demonstrations that peaked on January 8 and 9. Authorities claim the rallies were initially peaceful but later turned into “foreign-instigated riots” involving violence and vandalism.

Mizan reported that Fahim was accused of collaborating with “the Zionist regime and the United States” and of breaking into a classified military site to seize weapons. His execution is the latest in a series of punishments tied to the unrest.

Iranian officials say more than 3,000 people were killed during the turmoil, including security forces and civilians, attributing the deaths to “terrorist acts.” However, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) disputes those figures, claiming over 7,000 deaths—most of them protesters—and warning the toll could be even higher.

The execution also comes against the backdrop of escalating conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States, which intensified after February 28 strikes that killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Ahmed Mohammed

06/04/2026