UPDATE 1-Iran executes two accused of Israel spy links, opposition rejects claim

​Iran executed two men convicted of cooperating ​with Israel’s Mossad intelligence service ‌and planning ​attacks inside the country, the judiciary's news outlet Mizan reported on Sunday, a charge denied by the opposition group they ‌were linked to.

Mizan said the two, identified as Mohammad Masoum Shahi and Hamed Validi, were accused of belonging to a spy network linked to Mossad and had received training abroad, including ‌in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. There have been a number of executions linked to the People’s ‌Mojahedin Organisation of Iran over the last few weeks.

Maryam Rajavi, president-elect of the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, the political arm of the PMOI, said on X that their only "crime was their commitment ⁠to ​freedom and the liberation of ⁠their people." They had been convicted on charges including “enmity against God” and cooperation with hostile groups, and their ⁠death sentences were upheld by the Supreme Court before being carried out, Mizan reported.

She said a number ​of PMOI members and other political prisoners remained on death row and called for ⁠international action to "halt the wave of executions." The NCRI, also known by its Farsi name Mujahideen-e-Khalq, is banned in ⁠Iran, ​and it is unclear how much support it has there. However, along with its bitter rivals the monarchists backing Reza Pahlavi, exiled son of the toppled shah, it ⁠is one of the few opposition groups able to rally supporters.

"Just as the Shah could ⁠not save his ⁠rule through repression and bloodshed, the criminal mullahs cannot escape the rising anger of the people of Iran and the determination of ‌the rebellious youth," ‌Rajavi said.