Iran Passes Death Penalty Law for Any Ties to Israel or U.S. After Devastating Strikes
Iran’s parliament passed a harsh law imposing the death penalty for any cooperation with Israel or the U.S., targeting espionage and support for these nations, while also criminalizing unauthorized internet tools like Starlink. The move, coupled with suspended IAEA cooperation, signals Iran’s defiance following devastating strikes on its nuclear facilities and growing internal crackdowns.
In a sweeping move following devastating Israeli-U.S. airstrikes that obliterated Iran’s nuclear facilities in June 2025, Iran’s parliament passed a draconian law on June 28, 2025, making any form of cooperation with Israel or the United States punishable by death. The legislation, enacted amid heightened tensions after Operation Rising Lion crippled Iran’s nuclear ambitions, classifies such acts as “corruption on earth,” a charge that carries the death penalty. “Any intelligence, espionage, or operational activity for Israel, the US, or other hostile regimes and groups or their agents against the country’s security or national interests is considered corruption on earth and punishable by death,” the law states. It further criminalizes “any security, military, economic, financial, technological action or any direct or indirect assistance knowingly done to approve, strengthen, consolidate, or legitimize Israel,” also punishable by execution.
Previously, Iranian prosecutors combined multiple charges to justify death sentences for alleged spies, but the new law streamlines this process, removing legal ambiguities to expedite convictions. Since the conflict began on June 13, 2025, authorities have arrested over 700 suspected spies, with at least four executions reported, including three last week for alleged Mossad ties. The law’s retroactive application, which violates Iran’s constitution, has raised alarms about mass executions, with human rights groups warning of unfair trials and arbitrary detentions.
The legislation also targets technology bypassing Iran’s internet controls. Using or importing unauthorized tools like Starlink incurs six months to two years in prison, while importing over ten devices with intent to undermine the Islamic Republic could lead to a ten-year sentence. On June 24, 2025, parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, with lawmakers chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.” Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed to accelerate Iran’s nuclear program “stronger and faster than before,” despite the destruction of key sites like Natanz and Fordo. The law reflects Iran’s desperate attempt to reassert control amid internal unrest and external pressure, with 1.9 million Iranians displaced by the conflict.