Man executed in Iran for espionage ties to Israel's Mossad intelligence agency
An Iranian man convicted of spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency was executed on Wednesday, Iran's state media reported, days after a deadly explosion in a major commercial port.
Mohsen Langarneshin was "hired" by the Israeli spy service in October 2020, Iran's judiciary media outlet Mizan said. He was accused of providing operational and technical support in the assassination of Sayyad Khodaei, a senior member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who was shot dead outside his Tehran home in May 2022.
He had been convicted by an Iranian court on charges of espionage and intelligence co-operation with Israel, Mizan aded. He was hanged on Wednesday morning after the verdict was confirmed by Iran's Supreme Court.
Entangled in a decades-long shadow war with Israel, Iran has put to death many people it accuses of having links with Mossad and enabling its operations, notably assassinations or acts of sabotage meant to undermine Iran's nuclear programme.
Wednesday's execution comes ahead of a fourth round of talks with the US on the nuclear programme set to take place this weekend. Earlier this week Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Israel of seeking to derail the talks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the idea of limiting Tehran's uranium enrichment through a deal with the US. He has been pushing for the full dismantlement of its nuclear infrastructure.
Mr Langarneshin, over the course of two years, is alleged to have provided logistical, technical and operational support for an attack in Isfahan on an industrial centre affiliated with Iran's Ministry of Defence, Mizan stated.
It said he bought communications equipment, vehicles and transferred money from Mossad officers to 'operational elements' inside Iran, while renting safe houses in several provinces.
'He was responsible for important actions, including supporting terrorist operations and being present at the scene of the assassination of Sayyad Khodaei,' Mizan said.
He also met senior Mossad officers in Georgia and Nepal to receive assignments, Mizan added.
It said he had "confessed" to his actions.
Rights groups have accused Iran of carrying out 'sham trials' and issuing sentences without credible evidence.
The execution comes days after an explosion near Bandar Abbas in a major port caused massive fires that were finally declared extinguished late on Monday. It killed 70 people and injured hundreds on Saturday.
Iran
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
What happens if Israel intensifies attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure
An escalation of attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure could result in a further rise in oil prices, potential supply disruptions and hit countries reliant on Iranian oil, such as China, analysts said. In the first apparent attack to hit energy infrastructure, Iran partially suspended production at South Pars, the world's biggest gasfield, after an Israeli strike caused a fire there on Saturday, the country's semi-official Tasnim news agency said. The South Pars field, offshore in Iran's southern Bushehr province, is the source of most of the gas produced in Iran. While the South Pars gasfield and refineries have been attacked, 'production continues and the damage is not catastrophic yet, but we could see further escalation and strikes, which could annihilate Iran's capacity to tap into this energy field', said Nicolas Michelon, managing partner of Alagan Partners, a Dubai corporate geopolitics consultancy. The Shahran oil depot in Tehran was also targeted in an Israeli attack, Iran said, but added the situation was under control. 'The Shahran fuel and gasoline depot in Tehran, which is one of the largest gas depots in the city, stores enough fuel for about three days' worth of Tehran's fuel needs. This has been hit by Israeli air forces and possibly some sabotage as well by Mossad operatives on the ground,' he said. The Shahr Rey oil refinery in Tehran, one of the largest in Iran and vital for domestic fuel production, was also targeted. Fears about potential disruption to the region's oil exports drove up oil prices more than 7 per cent on Friday even though Israel did not attack Iran's hydrocarbon facilities on the first day. Israel and Iran continued intense bombardments on one another's territories for the third day, amid growing concerns over a wider conflict in one of the world's crucial oil-producing regions. 'From what we know so far, Israel's main targets have been Iranian nuclear and missile facilities and military personnel,' Vandana Hari, chief executive of Singapore-based Vanda Insights, told The National. 'Of course, it could end up deliberately or accidentally also hitting Iranian oil and gasfields and oil storages and export ports. Crippling a major source of the Islamic Republic's revenues would make it harder for it to rebuild its nuclear and missile capabilities.' But striking Iranian energy infrastructure may be a red line for the US. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar had also pressed Washington in October last year to lean on Israel to not target energy infrastructure for fear that their own sites may come under a retaliatory attack from Tehran, she added. 'I expect [US President Donald] Trump to intervene more assertively if he sees the Israel-Iran attacks starting to encroach on Iranian or regional oil infrastructure, as that could well be the tipping point for a wider regional conflagration and he is loath to higher oil prices.' Mr Michelon said potential future targets may include the Kharg oil terminal, which is where about 90 per cent of Iran's oil exports leave the country, mostly to China; the Abadan refinery, which produces fuel for about 25 per cent of Iran's domestic needs; and Mahshahr oil terminal, which is one of the country's main distribution hubs. If Israel strikes these sites, it would 'seriously disrupt' both domestic supply and global exports. It would cut off Iranian energy exports from crucial markets such as China, he warned. Further attacks to Iran's energy infrastructure could also have a direct impact on energy supply chains, Mr Michelon said. 'We must also consider the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas trade. It could be threatened if Iran decides to retaliate by trying to block traffic,' he said. Cascading impact If the attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure continue and aggravate, that could also have a cascading effect on countries reliant on Iranian oil, particularly China. About 90 per cent of Iranian oil ends up in China, he said. Naeem Aslam, chief investment officer at Zaye Capital Markets, said the playbook points to Iran targeting Israeli energy infrastructure next. Oil prices could breach $120 if energy infrastructure gets hit, he added. Robert Mogielnicki, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute, agreed that any escalatory actions affecting regional oil infrastructure and crucial energy trade routes could pressurise oil prices. Striking Iranian energy infrastructure may be a red line for the US Vandana Hari, chief executive, Vanda Insights 'Iran's oil facilities remain a potential target of future Israeli strikes in what [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu said could be a multiday battle. Any disruption to Iranian oil infrastructure would directly impact Iran's domestic fuel supply chain and Chinese customers, which are the primary buyers of Iranian crude oil exports,' he said. 'If the Israeli attacks provoke a steep rise in global oil prices, it will be felt far beyond Tehran and Beijing.' Mukesh Sahdev, global head of commodity markets – oil at Rystad Energy, said Iran itself is not the central issue; rather, it's caught in the 'geopolitical crossfire' between the US, Russia and China. The key to watch is how Russia and China respond, rather than Iran itself, he added. US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the escalating crisis in a roughly hour-long phone call on Saturday. During the call, the Russian leader condemned Israel's military operation against Iran and voiced serious concern over a potential escalation that could have 'unpredictable consequences for the entire region', Russia's Tass news agency reported. However, the oil market overall is very supply resilient today, according to Norbert Ruecker, head of economics and next generation research at Swiss bank Julius Baer. Storage is ample in the western world and especially in China, which built extensive oil inventories over the past decade. Petro-nations such as Saudi Arabia also have plentiful spare production capacity, exceeding 5 per cent of global output, which they just began to bring back to the market, Mr Ruecker said.
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Iran missiles kill 10 in Israel in night of mutual attacks
Iranian strikes killed at least 10 people and wounded dozens in Israel overnight, as cross-border attacks continued into Sunday. One missile hit an apartment building in the city of Bat Yam, near Tel Aviv, killing six people, including two children. At least 35 people were still missing following the strike, according to Israeli media. Another four people were killed when a missile hit a building in Tamra, a Palestinian town in northern Israel. Israeli authorities said more than 140 were wounded by missiles that had hit homes in northern and central Israel, including the city Rehovot. At least 13 people have so far been killed in Israel and over 300 others wounded since Iran retaliated to Israel's offensive on Iran on Friday, according to Israel's rescue service. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters In Iran, authorities have said at least 78 people were killed there on the first day of Israel's campaign, and scores more on the second, including 60 when a missile brought down a 14-storey apartment block in Tehran, where 29 of the dead were children. Overnight Sunday, Israel struck the South Pars gas field, offshore in the southern Bushehr province, in the first apparent attack on Iran's energy infrastructure. Tasnim news agency said production was partially suspended at South Pars, the world's biggest gas field and the source of most of the gas produced in Iran, after the Israeli strike caused a fire there on Saturday. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Israel's attack on the gas facility on the shore of the Gulf sought "to expand the war beyond" Iran. Araghchi said Iran is acting in 'legitimate' self-defence and the attacks on Israel will end once Israel halts its military campaign against the Islamic republic. Israel and US modified F-35s to enable Iran attack without refuelling, sources say Read More » On Sunday, Israel issued evacuation warnings to Iranians living near weapons production facilities in Tehran to leave the area. US President Donal Trump meanwhile said the conflict could be easily ended, but warned Tehran not to strike any US targets. "If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before," Trump said in a message on Truth Social. "However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict." Trump gave no details of any possible deal. Araqchi said Israel's attacks were aimed at sabotaging nuclear talks with the US, which were to resume in Oman on Sunday and have now been cancelled.
Middle East Eye
2 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Israel says new wave of attacks launched in western Iran
The Israeli army said it has 'completed another wave of attacks in western Iran' 'targeting missiles storage and launching infrastructure in the past hour. Iran has not immediately commented.
