Iran Hangs Nuclear Scientist for Mossad Betrayal: Shocking Spy Scandal
Iran executed Rouzbeh Vadi for allegedly spying for Mossad and Mehdi Asgharzadeh for plotting IS sabotage, intensifying its security crackdown after June 2025 airstrikes. The executions, part of a broader wave, raise fears of politically motivated trials amid escalating tensions with Israel.
On August 6, 2025, Iran executed two men in separate cases, one accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad and the other for ties to the Islamic State (IS) group, escalating concerns about a broader crackdown following recent conflicts. The judiciary’s Mizanonline news outlet identified the alleged spy as Rouzbeh Vadi, a nuclear scientist at Iran’s Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, who was charged with leaking classified information about a nuclear scientist killed during Israel’s June 2025 airstrikes. Vadi, a doctoral graduate who co-authored a 2011 paper with slain nuclear experts, allegedly met Mossad agents five times in Vienna, Austria, after being recruited online. “We will not tolerate the tentacles of Mossad undermining our scientific progress and national independence,” an Iranian judiciary official stated, reflecting Tehran’s resolve to counter Israeli intelligence operations.
The second man, Mehdi Asgharzadeh, was hanged for his role in an IS plot to sabotage religious sites in Iran. Operating under aliases “Abu Khaled” and “Hesam,” Asgharzadeh received military training in Syria and Iraq, entering Iran illegally with a five-member terror cell that was neutralized in a clash with security forces. Iran’s Supreme Court upheld both death sentences, with Mizanonline asserting full legal procedures were followed. The executions follow Israel’s 12-day war on Iran, which killed 14 nuclear scientists, as confirmed by Israel’s ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka. Iran has now executed seven individuals for espionage since the conflict, prompting Amnesty International to warn of potential secret trials, with 612 executions reported in 2025’s first half.
The crackdown coincides with heightened regional tensions after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack and Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes. Social media on X reflects alarm, with one user stating, “Iran’s execution spree is a desperate move to silence dissent and scare scientists.” Human rights groups, including Iran Human Rights, criticize the use of torture-induced confessions, noting Vadi’s 18-month detention before his hanging at Ghezelhesar Prison.