Iranian authorities have executed Erfan Shakourzadeh, a man accused of espionage for the United States and Israel, following allegations of collaboration with the CIA and Mossad. Shakourzadeh, a 29-year-old post-graduate student from Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran, was reportedly tortured for months after being convicted of assisting foreign intelligence services. Human rights groups revealed that he denied the charges in a written message before his execution.
The Norway-based organizations, Iran Human Rights and Hengaw, reported that Shakourzadeh, an esteemed aerospace engineering student, was held in solitary confinement and subjected to severe physical and psychological torture to extract false confessions. Iranian officials claimed that he provided sensitive information about satellite technology and his workplace to American and Israeli intelligence.
According to Hengaw and Iran Human Rights, Shakourzadeh’s execution took place without prior notification to his family, and he was denied a final visit. The message published by the rights groups on his behalf stated that the accusations were baseless and that he was coerced into false confessions under duress.
Shakourzadeh’s death marks the fifth execution on spying charges by the Iranian regime since the conflict with the US and Israel began. The execution occurred at Ghezel Hesar prison outside Tehran after his transfer from Evin prison earlier in the month.