Iranian authorities carried out executions on Saturday. They executed two political prisoners on charges of spying for Israel. Nasser Bakrzadeh was a Kurdish prisoner, while Yaghoub Karimpour was an Azeri prisoner. The official news agency reported the executions, and prison authorities had held both men in solitary confinement since Thursday.
Prison authorities often isolate inmates before carrying out death sentences. However, the official news agency said the two men cooperated with Mossad. They allegedly provided information to Israeli intelligence officers. In addition, authorities accused the executed political prisoners of photographing sensitive sites. Karimpour allegedly provided false information to authorities, which later led to serious charges.
He reportedly took photos of sensitive locations during Israeli bombing campaigns. Furthermore, he allegedly shared this material with an Israeli officer. Bakrzadeh maintained his innocence throughout the process. Nevertheless, he recorded a heartbreaking final message from his cell. The executed political prisoners left grieving families behind, and their relatives now mourn the loss.
Bakrzadeh said he was 26 years old. He had two younger sisters waiting at home. Authorities arrested him when he was just 23 years old. He described that period as the height of his hopes. Meanwhile, Iran has executed more than 14 people in recent days. Authorities carried out these executions swiftly because the charges included cooperating with hostile states.
The United Nations human rights chief spoke on Wednesday. Volker Türk said he felt deeply appalled by the surge in executions. At least 21 people have died since the war began. The conflict started in late February and continued for six painful weeks. Moreover, Turk said Iranian authorities continue stripping citizens of their basic rights.
Rights groups report that Iran uses brutal torture. Authorities often force detainees to incriminate themselves. Courts then use these coerced statements as evidence. As a result, the executed political prisoners likely faced such treatment. At least 44 protesters now face possible execution sentences after authorities detained them during the January protests across Iran.
The Iran Human Rights group documented these cases. Authorities hanged Sasan Azadvar, a young protester, on Thursday. They carried out his execution in Isfahan before the latest two deaths. According to rights groups, Karimpour had a physical disability. He also belonged to the Yarsani religious minority in Iran.
Authorities arrested him on June 16, 2025. They held him in detention for more than two agonizing months. Meanwhile, the executed political prisoners endured severe physical pressure. Prison guards also tortured Bakrzadeh severely. In his desperate voice message, he described his final moments. He called it possibly the last time anyone would hear his voice.
Karimpour was an Azerbaijani Turkic citizen. Activists reported that Iran executed 2,063 people in 2025. This figure represents the highest execution rate in 35 years. The Iran Human Rights group compiled these statistics, which include many people convicted on national security charges. Therefore, rights advocates say the numbers carry significant weight.
Iran’s judiciary chief has announced a zero-tolerance policy. Under this approach, the state will show no mercy to collaborators with enemy countries. Authorities identify the United States and Israel as hostile states. Consequently, the political prisoners executed under this policy faced swift punishment. Rights groups continue documenting each case because they fear more executions may follow.
Dozens of protesters remain on death row. Meanwhile, international pressure has not slowed the process. The political prisoners executed on Saturday represent part of an ongoing pattern. Human rights advocates continue calling for immediate international action because they want to stop the executions before more lives are lost.