Iran | Man Sentenced to Death for Alleged Espionage for Israel

Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO); 29 July 2026: Branch 23 of the Tehran Islamic Revolutionary Court has sentenced 43-year-old Ali Esmaili to death on charges of intelligence cooperation with Israel in a case marred by due process violations. His wife and brother have also been sentenced to imprisonment and heavy fines in the same case.

According to information obtained by Iran Human Rights, Branch 23 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court sentenced Ali Esmaili to death on charges of “intelligence cooperation in favour of the hostile Zionist regime” which amounted to moharebeh (enmity against God) and esfsad-fil-arz (corruption on earth). In addition to the death penalty, the court sentenced Ali to three years of imprisonment for allegedly photographing military sites and ordered him to pay a fine equal to three times the value of a seized Starlink receiver.

Ali’s wife, Mojgan Bagheri was sentenced to three years imprisonment for alleged participation in photographing military sites and 15 months' imprisonment for insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic. His brother, Arslan Esmaeili, was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment for insulting the Supreme Leader and ordered to pay a fine equal to three times the value of the Starlink receiver.

The case against the three family members stems from a raid carried out by security forces in August 2025 at a property in Chenaran village, Damavand County. According to court records, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence officers targeted the residence following reports of laser light emissions near a Ministry of Defence installation.

An informed source told IHRNGO: “Around 220 to 300 IRGC Intelligence agents stormed the property a day after peace was declared. Because he was away at the time, security forces took roughly ten family members hostage, including his parents and parents-in-law, forcing him to turn himself in at around 4.00 am to secure their release.”

During the search, officers confiscated personal property, including mobile phones, laptops, a Starlink satellite internet unit, alcoholic beverages and a firearm. In reports submitted to the court, IRGC intelligence claimed that the seized handgun originated from Pakistan and was distributed by Israeli intelligence agencies.

“Following his surrender, he was taken to Branch 3 of the Interrogation Unit. Authorities seized alcohol, a brand-new, unused handgun he kept for security on his livestock farm and a damaged Starlink device that had lain inactive on the roof for months prior to the conflict. Despite his professional background as a Forex trader and exchange operator, security forces used these items to bring charges against him. He and his brother, who was merely visiting as a guest, were subsequently held in solitary confinement in Ward 1A for three months,” the informed source said.

Human Rights in Iran which first reported news of Ali’s sentence, reported that he was denied access to a lawyer of his choice.

The informed source said: “Before formal interrogation was completed, Judge Salavati attempted to serve him a notice for 30 years’ imprisonment for efsad-fil-arz and the death penalty for moharebeh, which he refused to sign. The case was then transferred to Branch 1 of the Roudehen Court on jurisdictional grounds, where he was questioned via video conference. The file was later assigned to Judge Taghizadeh, who verbally indicated that the firearm carried two to three years and the Starlink merited only a fine, while dismissing the espionage allegations.”

Despite these assurances and the fact that he voluntarily surrendered, the court handed down maximum penalties. “The case has since been sent to the Supreme Court for review, following extortion attempts where IRGC officials demanded money from the family. If the Supreme Court upholds the verdict, he faces transfer to Ghezel Hesar Prison for execution, with an officer having already shown him a ledger indicating a scheduled execution date,” the informed source concluded.

Ali Esmaili is currently held in Evin Prison.

At least twelve people have been executed for espionage charges in 2026. Ten were accused of espionage for Israel and the United States, and two Iraqi nationals were accused of espionage for an unknown Arab country. According to IHRNGO’s 2025 Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran, at least 13 people were executed for charges related to espionage for Israel. The surge began in the lead-up to the Twelve-Day War in June 2025; two people were executed prior to the war, three during the war and the remainder were executed after the war. It is important to note that in some cases, the defendants were not originally arrested for espionage charges. They were coerced and tortured into making self-incriminating confessions that were later used as the basis of their sentences. In 2026, ten of the executions for espionage have been carried out since the 40-day war began.

Source: Iran Human Rights, Staff, July 29, 2026

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde

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