“Israeli spy”: Iranian wrote a letter to Zelensky – and was executed

Iranian authorities executed Babak Sheabazi. Among the accusations were aiding Mossad and a letter to Zelensky offering to fight for Ukraine. Human rights activists call the process political.

Execution and official version

Iranian authorities announced on September 17, 2025, the execution of Babak Sheabazi. He was “found” guilty of collaborating with Mossad. The indictment included the transfer of data on military facilities and infrastructure to Israel.

On Iranian television, this was presented as a “serious espionage case.” But as usual, few details were revealed.

Ukrainian motive in the accusations

The name of Ukraine unexpectedly appeared in the case. The investigation claimed that Sheabazi wrote a letter to President Volodymyr Zelensky, offering to become a volunteer and fight against Russia.

For the Iranian court, this became an additional argument: a person allegedly connected with both Israel and Ukraine was automatically declared a traitor. Such a combination perfectly fits into Tehran’s propaganda narrative.

What human rights activists say

The picture described by human rights activists is completely different. They are convinced that confessions were extracted through torture, and Sheabazi was held in solitary confinement for a long time.

Some of the accusations seemed absurd. Even his training in Microsoft Word was presented as “mastering espionage technologies.”

“This is an indicator of how far Iranian courts are from justice,” said human rights activists in exile.

Significance for Israel and Ukraine

For Israel, such processes are a long-familiar practice. Tehran regularly uses the image of Mossad as a convenient enemy to justify internal repression.

Ukraine was drawn into this case for another reason. The very fact that a letter to Zelensky could become part of the accusations shows that even moral support for Kyiv in the war against Russia is interpreted as a crime in Iran.

Context and consequences

The execution of Sheabazi is just one example. Iran has repeatedly conducted show trials, accusing citizens of ties with Israel. But this time, Ukraine was so prominently featured for the first time.

This enhances the propaganda effect: for Iranian authorities, enemies merge into a single image — Israel and Ukraine. And any hint of contact with them becomes grounds for a death sentence.

Conclusion

Babak Sheabazi was executed in September 2025. His case became another political process where accusations were based on propaganda rather than evidence.

Human rights activists call it an execution, not a trial. The Iranian regime once again showed that the death penalty remains a tool of intimidation for them.

For Israel and Ukraine, this story is a reminder: Tehran is ready to use their names in any internal campaign, turning foreign flags into a convenient cover for repression.