Iran’s Chief Justice, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei has issued a stern ultimatum to individuals accused of collaborating with Israel, vowing that they will face the “harshest punishments” under the country’s legal framework.
The warning follows recent escalations in tensions between the two long-standing rivals and a spate of executions related to espionage allegations.
Speaking on Monday, Mohseni-Ejei declared that there would be no leniency for those found guilty of working with Israeli intelligence services.
“They will face the harshest punishment in accordance with the applicable laws and with the utmost urgency,” he said, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.
Under Iranian law, collaboration with Israel or other foreign intelligence agencies is considered a capital offence. Accused individuals may be charged with “waging war against God” and “spreading corruption on Earth,” both of which are punishable by death under Islamic law.
In his remarks, the judiciary chief emphasized the need for speed and transparency in prosecuting such cases. “Those arrested on such charges must be brought to trial immediately.
Verdicts should be issued without delay, and sentences carried out swiftly, even publicly, especially now amid wartime conditions,” he stressed.
The warning coincides with reports from the state-affiliated Mizan News Agency that Iran executed another individual convicted of spying for Israel.
The man, who was reportedly arrested in 2023, was accused of providing sensitive intelligence to Israeli operatives and was found guilty on charges including espionage, treason, and religious crimes.
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This marks the third execution tied to espionage accusations in just a few months, signaling a renewed wave of crackdowns by Iran’s security apparatus.
Officials have justified the executions as necessary for national security and deterrence, particularly given the intensifying military and intelligence confrontations with Israel.
Tensions between Iran and Israel surged sharply on June 13, when Israel launched a series of large-scale airstrikes on Iranian military positions and infrastructure.
The strikes, which Israeli officials claimed were in response to escalating Iranian threats in the region, prompted swift retaliation from Tehran. Since then, both countries have traded warnings, with fears of wider regional conflict continuing to grow.
Analysts say the judiciary’s aggressive stance reflects not just domestic concerns but a desire to send a clear message to both internal dissidents and external enemies.
“Iran wants to show that espionage won’t be tolerated under any circumstance,” said a Middle East analyst who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Human rights advocates, however, have expressed alarm over the speed and opacity of the judicial process in such cases, criticizing what they describe as “show trials” lacking due process. Iran maintains that all legal procedures are followed in line with its national and religious laws.
As geopolitical hostilities continue to simmer, Iran’s judiciary appears intent on reinforcing its internal defenses with harsh penalties for those it deems traitors.
NAN
