Iran executes nuclear engineer accused of spying for Israel

An Iranian nuclear engineer employed at the Natanz nuclear facilities was executed in Qom last week after being convicted of spying for Israel, according to the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights.

1news.media informs, citing Iran International, Hengaw said Javad Naeimi, a resident of Qom and a specialist working at the Natanz site, was hanged at dawn on October 18 in Qom Central Prison “under conditions of total secrecy.”

Iranian state media had earlier reported the execution of an unnamed man for espionage for Israel but did not identify him.

The rights group said Naeimi had been arrested by security forces in February 2024 and sentenced to death after what it described as an opaque judicial process.

It said he was subjected to torture and coerced confessions during interrogation, citing a pattern of forced admissions in Iranian espionage cases.