Iran has reportedly carried out the execution of a man it accused of espionage for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.
The man was executed on Wednesday, March 18, marking the first such death penalty carried out since the outbreak of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Tehran.
Sweden confirmed the executed individual held Swedish citizenship, prompting sharp condemnation from Stockholm and a diplomatic summons for Iran’s ambassador.
In a strong statement, Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Maria Malmer, has expressed deep dismay at the development as she described the death penalty as “inhumane, cruel and irreversible.”
“It is with dismay that I have received information that a Swedish citizen was executed in Iran earlier today,” she said.
She went further, categorically stating that Sweden — along with the entire European Union — does not support capital punishment in all cases or under any circumstances.
Stenergard noted that since last year, when the executed man was arrested, Swedish officials had repeatedly pressed Iranian authorities about the case. She said their efforts included high-level contacts aimed at securing fair treatment and due process.
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Stenergard has also indicated that the legal proceedings that Iran employed before executing the man fell far short of international standards.
She has revealed that Iran’s ambassador in Stockholm had been summoned to formally protest the execution of their citizen.
According to Iran’s judiciary-linked Mizan news agency, the executed man was identified as Kourosh Keyvani (also spelled Kurosh Keyvani in some reports).
Kourosh Keyvani was accused of supplying Israel’s Mossad with photographs and details about sensitive sites inside Iran.
The agency reported that Keyvani was recruited online while living in Sweden after he shared his personal information in what appeared to be an innocent group travel advertisement.
Iranian officials claimed he later received training in several European countries and in Tel Aviv before his arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Savjbolagh area.
Similar details were also reported by the Tasnim news agency, which noted that Keyvani possessed cash, high-end vehicles, and advanced surveillance equipment at the time of his detention.
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Iran’s judiciary said the Supreme Court had upheld the death sentence, leading to his execution on Wednesday morning.
This case is unfolding against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East. The U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran more than two weeks ago, targeting military infrastructure and drawing Iranian retaliation that has included attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on Gulf Arab states.
Iran has portrayed such espionage cases as part of a broader Western and Israeli effort to undermine its security during the conflict.
Capital punishment
While Iran is known for executing those they accuse of espionage for other countries, particularly for Israel and the United States of America, Sweden, like many European nations, has long advocated for the release or fair treatment of its citizens detained abroad on politically charged accusations.
The foreign minister’s statement did not name Keyvani directly but left little doubt about his identity, given the timing and details released by Iranian media.
Iran has frequently been criticized for its judicial process in espionage cases, pointing to limited access to legal representation, closed-door trials, and confessions obtained under duress.
Many Rights groups have been calling for greater transparency in such matters, especially when foreign nationals are involved.
The execution is likely to strain already fragile diplomatic ties between Tehran and European capitals.
Sweden and other EU members have imposed sanctions on Iranian officials over human rights violations, including the use of the death penalty.
This incident could prompt fresh calls for accountability as the war continues to escalate regional risks.
