Iran Executes Six Fighters in Khuzestan Amid Rising Tensions and Accusations of Israeli Ties
Iran has executed six individuals accused of carrying out armed attacks in the southwestern province of Khuzestan, according to state media reports. The executions mark the latest in a series of accelerated death sentences issued by Tehran against those the government claims have connections with Israel or engaged in separatist and terrorist activities following the 12-day June conflict involving Israel and the United States.
The Iranian judiciary announced on Saturday, via the Mizan News Agency, that the six men were sentenced to death for “carrying out a series of armed operations and bombings targeting security forces in Khuzestan province in recent years.” The statement did not immediately provide detailed identities of all those executed, nor did it disclose the full circumstances surrounding their arrests and trials.
Mizan reported that the six individuals were implicated in the killings of four security personnel between 2018 and 2019, including two police officers and two members of the Basij paramilitary force. In addition, they were said to have confessed to orchestrating acts of sabotage such as planting bombs and targeting critical infrastructure, including an attack on the Khorramshahr gas station.
Iran frequently labels groups involved in separatist and armed activities as “terrorist organizations” and routinely links them to its regional rival, Israel, accusing them of carrying out operations under foreign influence.
In a separate case, Iranian authorities executed Kurdish fighter Saman Mohammadi for charges including Moharebeh, or “waging war against God.” Mohammadi, who was arrested in 2013, was convicted in connection with the 2009 killing of the Friday prayers imam in Sanandaj, as well as a series of armed robberies, kidnappings, and the killing of a conscript. The executions underscore the regime’s hardline stance against Kurdish separatist movements and groups it associates with foreign interference.
These executions come less than a week after Iran carried out the death sentence of Bahman Choobiasl, described by Iranian authorities as “one of the most important Israeli spies operating inside Iran.” Choobiasl was accused of meeting with officials from Mossad, Israel’s national intelligence agency, and working on “sensitive telecommunications projects” that allegedly compromised Iranian security. Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the conviction, sentencing him to death on charges of “corruption on Earth,” a capital offense under Iranian law.
Tehran has long been entangled in a shadow war with Israel, and the June conflict marked a sharp escalation. The 12-day war included Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian generals, nuclear scientists, and even residential areas, while Iran responded with missile and drone attacks. The United States also conducted strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during the conflict, reportedly in support of Israeli operations. According to Amnesty International, Israeli strikes in Iran killed at least 1,100 people, highlighting the severe human toll of the confrontation.
Following the June conflict, Iran has intensified its crackdown on individuals it accuses of aiding Israel or undermining the state, including those involved in protests over economic conditions, women’s rights, and calls for regime change. Reports from human rights organizations, including Iran Human Rights and the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran, indicate that more than 1,000 people have been executed in 2025 alone. These numbers may be higher, as Tehran does not disclose every execution.
Iran is now considered the second most prolific executioner in the world, after China, according to Amnesty International and other human rights watchdogs. The rise in executions reflects Tehran’s broader strategy of consolidating internal control while demonstrating its stance against perceived foreign threats and internal dissent.
Analysts note that the executions in Khuzestan carry significant political implications. Khuzestan, a province with a large Arab minority, has experienced periodic unrest and tensions with central authorities. By linking separatist activity to Israeli influence, Iran’s government seeks to frame these acts as threats to national security rather than purely domestic grievances.
Human rights advocates have condemned the recent executions, calling for international scrutiny and accountability. “The use of the death penalty against those accused of political, separatist, or minor criminal offenses is deeply troubling,” said a spokesperson for Amnesty International. “The Iranian authorities are leveraging these executions not only to punish individuals but also to intimidate communities and suppress dissent.”
Saman Mohammadi’s case highlights the particularly harsh treatment of Kurdish activists in Iran. The Kurdish minority has long faced discrimination, and armed resistance movements, often rooted in historical grievances, are treated as existential threats by Tehran. Mohammadi’s execution sends a stark message to Kurdish and other minority groups in the country: challenges to state authority, whether real or alleged, will be met with the harshest measures.
Iranian authorities justify the executions as part of their ongoing fight against what they label as “narco-terrorists” or foreign-backed separatist elements. However, legal experts argue that many of these cases, especially those involving allegations of ties to Israel, are politically motivated and often lack transparent judicial processes.
As tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States continue to simmer, the executions serve as a grim reminder of the human costs of geopolitical conflict. Observers warn that without meaningful diplomatic engagement and legal reforms, Iran’s accelerated execution practices could exacerbate instability in the region and deepen human rights crises within the country.
In conclusion, the recent executions of six fighters in Khuzestan, along with the hanging of Kurdish activist Saman Mohammadi and alleged Israeli spy Bahman Choobiasl, reflect Iran’s ongoing hardline policies. These actions follow a period of heightened military conflict with Israel and internal unrest, illustrating Tehran’s dual strategy of asserting internal control and signaling defiance to external actors. Human rights organizations continue to call for international attention, highlighting concerns over due process, political persecution, and the excessive use of the death penalty in Iran.