Iranian authorities executed a post-graduate student from a prestigious Tehran university on charges of espionage, amid tensions with the United States and Israel. Erfan Shakourzadeh, 29, was accused of collaborating with the CIA and Mossad. Rights groups criticized Iran’s use of capital punishment during times of conflict and accused the regime of torture and forced confessions.
Shakourzadeh, a top aerospace engineering student, was subjected to months of torture before being hanged at Ghezel Hesar prison. He denied the espionage charges and condemned the use of executions to instill fear in society. Iran has faced scrutiny for its high number of executions, with at least 190 recorded in 2026. The regime’s crackdown on dissent following protests has drawn international condemnation.
