Iran transfers alleged Israeli spy to death row

Among the evidence cited against Shahbazi was a letter he allegedly wrote to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring his willingness to join Ukrainian forces against Russia.

By Aaron Sull, Jewish Breaking News

Iran has moved one step closer to executing another prisoner accused of spying for Israel.

Babak Shahbazi,44 worked as a heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician at data centers, including Iran’s telecommunications company, before security forces arrested him in January 2024.

He spent over nine months in solitary confinement at Evin Prison and safe houses, where authorities subjected him to severe torture to extract confessions, according to Iran Human Rights.

Branch 15 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced him to death on May 4, 2025, on charges of “moharebeh” (enmity against god) and “efsad-fil-arz” (corruption on earth).

Judge Abolqasem Salavati, known as the “Death Judge,” presided over the proceedings. His Supreme Court appeal was rejected within 24 hours.

Among the evidence cited against Shahbazi was a letter he allegedly wrote to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declaring his willingness to join Ukrainian forces against Russia.

Prosecutors claimed Israel taught him to use Microsoft Word for this correspondence.

Authorities denied Shahbazi access to the lawyer his family hired, and his defense attorney was blocked from reviewing the case file.

“Babak was denied access to a lawyer for months after arrest & subjected him to torture, including prolonged solitary confinement & threats to harm his family, to extract ‘confessions,’” Amnesty International reported on social media.

Hengaw Organization for Human Rights described additional charges against him as unsupported by documentary evidence, including alleged involvement in smuggling operations, a bombing, and the message to Zelensky.

One charge bizarrely targeted his teenage daughter for “leading protests in 2009,” despite her being only three years old at the time.

On Sunday, the 44-year-old father of two was reportedly transferred to Ghezelhesar Prison, where most death row inmates in Tehran and Alborz provinces are executed.

Just days before his transfer, the regime executed nuclear scientist Rouzbeh Vadi as the number of citizens being convicted of spying for Israel has significantly increased this year, with at least eight death sentences carried out in recent months.