Iran Executes Four Alleged Israeli Spies

Iran executed four individuals accused of being linked to an Israeli intelligence operation, stating that they had illegally entered Iranian territory from Iraq's Kurdistan region to carry out a bombing operation in an Isfahan-based factory producing equipment for Iran's Ministry of Defence. The Supreme Court rejected their appeal, and Iranian state media reported that the operation was meant to take place in the summer of 2022 on behalf of Israel's Mossad, but was averted by Iranian intelligence. Iran and Israel, longtime foes, are currently in a dispute over Iran's nuclear program, with mutual accusations of backing militant attacks and carrying out targeted killings.