Tehran Executes Erfan Kiani Over Allegations of Mossad-Linked Sabotage and Violence During January Civil Unrest

Erfan Kiani was hanged in Isfahan after Iran's Supreme Court confirmed charges of arson and Mossad-linked violence during recent nationwide protests.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 3:54 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Times of Israel

Capital Punishment Carried Out in Isfahan

The Iranian judiciary has finalized the death sentence of an Iranian national accused of collaborating with foreign intelligence services. According to reports from the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Erfan Kiani was hanged early Saturday morning following the conclusion of established legal proceedings. The execution took place after the nation’s Supreme Court reviewed and confirmed the initial sentence, marking a swift judicial conclusion to a case that has been closely tied to the internal stability of the Islamic Republic.

Allegations of Foreign Intelligence Cooperation

The state’s case against Kiani centered on the claim that he was a hired operative working on behalf of the Mossad, the national intelligence agency of Israel. Authorities alleged that Kiani’s primary role was to act as a local asset for foreign interests, facilitating a campaign of disruption during the period of intense nationwide protests that occurred in January. By framing the defendant as a foreign agent, the Iranian government has sought to link domestic unrest to external interference and clandestine operations directed from abroad.

Specific Charges of Public Violence and Arson

The specific criminal acts attributed to Kiani involved significant damage to both state and private infrastructure in the central city of Isfahan. Official reports state that he engaged in systematic destruction and arson, targeting property as part of a broader effort to destabilize the local environment. Furthermore, the prosecution presented evidence that the defendant wielded a machete during the unrest, an act that authorities characterized as an attempt to spread fear and terror throughout the civilian population of the city.