Iran has executed Mohsen Langarneshin, an Iranian national convicted of espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel’s Mossad spy agency, the Mizan news agency, affiliated with Iran’s judiciary, reported early on Wednesday. Langarneshin was accused of acting as a senior spy providing logistical support for multiple Mossad operations within Iran. The agency stated that Langarneshin had close cooperation with senior Mossad officers and had met with them in countries including Georgia and Nepal.
Mizan accused Langarneshin of being present during the assassination of Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in Tehran in May 2022, as well as providing operational and technical support for an attack on an industrial centre linked to Iran’s defence ministry in Isfahan. No further details about Langarneshin’s background were disclosed.
This execution occurs amidst sensitive ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme between Tehran and the administration of then-US President Donald Trump. The US is aiming to limit Iran’s nuclear activities to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon, in exchange for lifting severe economic sanctions that have heavily impacted the Iranian economy. Both the US and Israel have issued threats of military action should these talks collapse.
Iran has frequently accused Israel of sabotage targeting its nuclear facilities and the assassinations of nuclear scientists. In recent years, the Islamic republic, which routinely enforces the death penalty, has executed multiple people accused of espionage for Mossad. Human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, have criticised Iran’s judicial processes, warning that death sentences are often imposed without adequate due process, rendering legal protections ineffective.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stressed that any agreement must result in the dismantling of all Iranian nuclear infrastructure. In response, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticised Netanyahu’s statements, accusing him of attempting to dictate the terms of US diplomacy with Iran, and alleged that Israel seeks to undermine diplomatic efforts through sabotage and assassinations intended to provoke legitimate responses. Araghchi communicated these views on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
The execution followed a catastrophic explosion and fire at the Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, which occurred on the same weekend of the third round of nuclear talks held in Oman between Tehran and Washington. The blast resulted in at least 70 deaths and over 1,200 injuries. While speculation circulated online alleging possible Israeli involvement, neither Iranian nor Israeli officials have supported these claims. Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni attributed the incident to safety failures and negligence, while Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesperson for the parliament’s national security and foreign relations committee, stated there was no proof of sabotage or foreign interference in the explosion.
The Financial Times is reporting on this significant series of events noting the ongoing tensions between Iran, Israel, and the US amid diplomatic attempts to resolve the nuclear issue.
Source: Noah Wire Services