Iran executed a man named Bahman Choubi-asl on Monday, the judiciary’s news outlet Mizan said, saying the defendant was “one of the most important spies for Israel in Iran”.
According to Mizan, Choubi-asl’s cooperation with Mossad aimed to “obtain the database of governmental institutions and create a breach in Iranian data centres, along with which it also pursued other secondary goals, including investigating the route of importing electronic equipment.”
The Supreme Court rejected his appeal, confirming the death sentence on charges based on the Quranic transgression “corruption on earth.”
Iranian statements regarding Choubi-asl emphasize cyber objectives and data collection, echoing Tehran’s long-standing claims that Israeli intelligence seeks both human and technical access within the country.
Choubi-asl’s execution comes amid a broader pattern of espionage prosecutions and counter-espionage between Tehran and Jerusalem. Iran has repeatedly executed individuals accused of working for Mossad, and detained dozens more suspected of passing intelligence to Israel, such as a reported roundup of 22 people.
Haaretz Weekly
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Iranian authorities executed Rouzbeh Vadi in August, accused of relaying information to Israel about an Iranian nuclear scientist killed during Israeli airstrikes in June. Vadi reportedly met Mossad officers five times in Vienna.
Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have uncovered an unprecedented wave of suspected Iranian spy networks operating on its soil since October 2023, arresting over 20 citizens in recent months – including soldiers, dual nationals, Iranian immigrants, and civilian couples.
Yaakov Perl, a Moroccan resident and American-Israeli citizen, allegedly communicated with Iranian officials via Telegram in 2023–24, was promised regular pay, and, after failing to recruit others, renewed his passport and flew to Israel, where he is accused of documenting the homes and security arrangements of senior officials.
Another Iranian-born Israeli was charged with transmitting information during the 12-day war, including details about Israeli strikes in Iran and drone flight paths. In addition, Israeli soldiers and civilians have been implicated in gathering intelligence on military systems such as the Iron Dome missile-defense system and in monitoring senior government figures.
Investigations reveal that Iranian intelligence recruits Israelis through social media and messaging apps, often using financial incentives, cryptocurrency, or ideological appeals. Many recruits have been motivated by financial distress, marginalization, or anti-Zionist sentiment. In some cases, Tehran has specifically targeted vulnerable populations, including ultra-Orthodox communities and recent immigrants from Iran and Azerbaijan.
The escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict in June, when Israel struck targets inside Iran using Mossad commandos, has intensified security responses on both sides. Tehran has increased executions and arrests of suspected spies, while Israel’s Shin Bet and police have launched campaigns to detect and disrupt Iranian recruitment, issuing public warnings, outreach videos, and indictments.
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This mirrors a broader pattern of reciprocal espionage: Israel has uncovered more than 20 cases since October 2023 of Israeli citizens, including soldiers, immigrants, and dual nationals, who allegedly spied for Iran. These individuals have been recruited via social media and messaging apps, often motivated by financial incentives or ideological persuasion. High-profile cases include Yaakov Perl, an Israeli-American arrested after allegedly spying for Iran in Israel, and several Iranian immigrants accused of transmitting sensitive intelligence on Israeli strikes and military operations.
Israeli authorities have also revealed networks of cells that operated undetected for years, including attempts to target senior officials such as former IDF Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, as well as the Iron Dome missile-defense system. Many recruits were financially distressed or marginalized, highlighting Iran’s exploitation of socioeconomic vulnerabilities to lure citizens into espionage. Authorities have warned that these recruitment efforts continue to be a serious threat, with some individuals even promising to recruit others from prison.
The recent arrests and executions on both sides underscore the high-stakes nature of this shadow war. While Iran focuses on rooting out Mossad operatives and alleged collaborators within its borders, Israel works to dismantle Iranian spy networks operating on its soil. This cycle of espionage, counter-espionage, arrests, and executions reflects the ongoing intensity and human cost of the Iran-Israel intelligence conflict, which remains a central and perilous element of their broader hostilities.
