Iran executes two men for spying for Israel, judiciary says

Iran executed Omid Behzad and Pouria Safvat on Monday after convicting them of spying for Israel, the judiciary's Mizan news outlet said, amid a rise in hangings over alleged espionage.

Mizan said the two men were hanged for transmitting coordinates of sensitive military and security sites to Mossad agents, referring to Israel's foreign intelligence service. It said they were convicted of espionage and collaboration with Israel, and alleged that they provided information on military and security centres during the war.

Mizan did not say when the pair were arrested or when they went on trial.

The judiciary announcement comes after executions in Iran rose following the start of the war with Israel and the United States in February. Rights groups including Amnesty International say Iran is the world's second-most prolific executioner after China.

Iran Human Rights, based in Norway, and Together Against the Death Penalty, based in Paris, said Iranian authorities executed at least 1,639 people last year, the highest annual figure since 1989. Amnesty has denounced what it called an escalation in executions after Iran announced the hanging of two men convicted over anti-government protests during the winter.