Spy Executed: Iran Hangs Individual Convicted of Aiding Mossad, Involved in Two-Year Operation Leading to Colonel's Assassination
The Iranian regime put a self-proclaimed "senior spy" named Mohsen Langarneshin to death on trumped-up charges of collaborating with Israel's Mossad intelligence agency. The hangman's noose claimed Langarneshin's life on Wednesday morning, as reported by the state-run Mizan news agency.
For two years, starting in 2020, Langarneshin was alleged to have offered Mossad extensive logistical, technical, and operational assistance. One of the primary accusations against him was his involvement in the murder of an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) colonel, Sayyad Khodai, who was gunned down by two motorcyclists in Tehran in May 2022. Rumors persist that Israel claimed responsibility for the killing, as reported by The New York Times.
According to the reports, Langarneshin purchased a motorcycle to track Khodai's movements, shared that information with Mossad, and was present during the assassination. He was also accused of aiding an attack on an industrial site in Isfahan, affiliated with Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.
The Iranian authorities claimed to have "extensive intelligence and technical evidence" linking Langarneshin to these operations and said he "fully confessed" to his involvement. However, concerns regarding the fairness of the trial were raised, with some claiming a confession was extracted through torture.
Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the head of the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) monitor, stated, "The Iranian authorities' execution machine is accelerating every day, taking the lives of more people." This execution was described as "extrajudicial killings." The US-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center, which had advocated for Langarneshin's case, asserted that he was convicted after his arrest at a Revolutionary Court presided over by judge Abolghasem Salavati, known for his harsh sentences and ties to human rights violations.
The Iran-born British actor and activist Nazanin Boniadi expressed her outrage, writing on Twitter, "The bloodthirsty Islamic Republic has executed yet another innocent."
Historically, Iran has executed numerous individuals accused of collaborating with Mossad in a shadow war that has spanned decades. In December 2023, four individuals were put to death for their presumed links to Mossad.
These executions come at a time when renewed US-Iran nuclear talks are underway, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accusing Israel of attempting to sabotage the negotiations. The fourth round of Oman-mediated negotiations between Washington and Tehran is set to take place in Rome on Saturday, according to Tehran. Araghchi was cautiously optimistic but stressed the talks were "extremely serious." However, allegations of torture and questionable judicial processes hinder the credibility of Iran's claims against individuals like Langarneshin.
- The breaking news of Mohsen Langarneshin's execution, a self-proclaimed "senior spy," has surfaced, with Mossad accused of collaboration in his alleged crimes.
- Langarneshin's connection to the 2022 murder of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) colonel Sayyad Khodai, gunned down by motorcyclists, has been widely reported.
- The Iranian economy, politics, and general-news circles are abuzz with the indirect implications of Langarneshin's trial and execution on human rights, as concerns regarding fairness and questions about confessions extracted through torture persist.
- War tensions between Iran and Israel seem to heighten, with allegations that Israel claimed responsibility for Khodai's killing, as reported by The New York Times.
- Crime-and-justice advocates, such as the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) monitor and the US-based Abdorrahman Boroumand Center, have criticized the proceedings, calling Langarneshin's execution an extrajudicial killing.
- The shadow war between Mossad and Iran continues, with historical precedence of executions of individuals accused of collaborating with Mossad, including four executions in December 2023, presenting a challenging backdrop for renewed US-Iran nuclear talks.
