Iran Executes Nuclear Scientist for Allegedly Spying for Israel’s Mossad
Iran has executed Rouzbeh Vadi, a nuclear scientist accused of spying for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, according to Iranian state media reports released on Thursday.
Accused of Sharing Nuclear Secrets
Vadi, who held a PhD in nuclear engineering from Amir Kabir University of Technology, was a researcher at the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI). He was accused of providing Mossad with highly classified information on Iran’s nuclear sites and scientists — including one expert who was reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike in June.
The Iranian judiciary’s outlet Mizan confirmed that Vadi had been convicted of espionage and executed on Wednesday. His alleged actions came during a period of escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, which included Israeli strikes targeting Iranian nuclear and military assets, and Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks.
“Confession” Aired on State TV
Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB aired a video showing what it claimed was Vadi’s confession. In it, he admitted to passing information on critical nuclear facilities — such as:
- Fordow and Natanz uranium enrichment plants
- Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF)
- Fuel Manufacturing Plant (FMP)
He said Mossad was particularly interested in monitoring the movement of nuclear materials in and out of these sites.
Vadi also confessed to meeting Mossad agents five times in Vienna, where he was allegedly instructed to open a cryptocurrency account to receive payments. He claimed Mossad offered him a foreign passport for long-term collaboration.
Links to Other Targeted Scientists
IRIB also released an image of a 2012 research paper co-authored by Vadi, along with Ahmad Zolfaqar and Abdolhamid Minouchehr — both of whom were reportedly killed in Israeli airstrikes this past June.
A Surge in Espionage-Related Executions
Vadi’s execution adds to a growing trend. Iran has reportedly executed at least eight individuals in 2025 alone for allegedly spying for Israel. These developments come amid heightened regional tensions, with Iran determined to crack down on what it views as foreign infiltration of its nuclear program.
