[IranAlert] Regime in Iran Hangs Tortured Man Over “Espionage” Charges

This is the NUFDI IranAlert—concise, timely analysis offering unique insights into breaking news and major developments inside Iran. Each short brief provides a fresh angle, highlighting trends, reactions, and overlooked internal dynamics shaping Iran and the Islamic Republic.

The Islamic Republic today (April 30) executed Mohsen Langarneshin, a 34-year-old man convicted of “spying” for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency in a torture-tainted court process.

The official news agency of the judiciary, Mizan, reported that Langarneshin was hanged today after being found guilty of “corruption on earth” and “waging war against Allah” (Moharebeh). These charges—vaguely defined and frequently invoked—are routinely used by the Islamic Republic to justify the execution of dissidents and demonstrators under the guise of legal due process.

Mizan alleged that Langarneshin was a “senior Mossad spy” who provided the Israeli intelligence agency with logistics and surveillance.

The outlet further alleged that Mossad recruited Langarneshin in October of 2020 and provided him with operational training abroad. The outlet claimed that he met with senior Mossad officers in Georgia and Nepal to receive mission instructions.

Mizan also alleged Langarneshin provided surveillance support to a Mossad hit team that assassinated an officer of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Col. Hassan Sayyad Khodaei, in May of 2022. Israel denied involvement in the killing.

Khodaei was deputy head of Unit 840, a shadowy division within the IRGC’s expeditionary Quds Force that carries out kidnappings and assassinations outside of Iran.

Ahead of the execution, his family repeatedly pleaded for his life, pointing to faulty legal procedures in his sentencing.

The Islamic Republic has been on an execution spree for the past two years. At least 901 people were executed in Iran in 2024, including about 40 in a single week in December, says the UN . At least 87 people were executed in prisons across Iran in January of 2025. Only 5% of executions were reported by official sources, the remaining 95% were verified and recorded by IHRNGO.