The defendants were accused of planning a bomb attack on a factory producing military equipment.
Iran has executed four men it said were linked to an Israeli intelligence operation.
According to Iranian state media, the death sentences were carried out on Monday after the Supreme Court rejected the appeals. The quartet was accused of planning a bomb attack ordered by the Israeli secret service Mossad.
The men were found guilty of entering Iran illegally from Iraq's northern Kurdish region to attack a factory in downtown Isfahan that produces equipment for the Defense Ministry and the armed forces' logistics. The operation was planned for summer 2022, but was averted by Iranian intelligence.
“The death sentence against four members of a group linked to the Zionist spy organization… was carried out this morning,” Iranian justice website Mizan Online reported.
Iran and Israel are long-time enemies. They are currently arguing about Iran's nuclear program. Israel accuses Iran of supporting armed groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah with which it is fighting. Iran says Israel has carried out a series of killings of Iranian officials and scientists. Tel Aviv does not confirm or deny these allegations.
Wave of executions
According to Amnesty, Iran executes more people each year than any other country except China, usually by hanging.
At the end of December, three men and a woman convicted of alleged ties to the Mossad were executed.
Last week, Mohammed Ghobadlou, an Iranian convicted of taking part in anti-government protests in late 2022, was executed. Critics said the defendant suffered from mental health problems.
“We are alarmed by reports of unfair trials in Mr. Ghobadlou’s case, as well as in other cases, that fell far short of the standards of due process and fair trial required by the international human rights laws to which Iran is bound,” Experts from the UN human rights agency after the execution of the sentence.
“We are dismayed by the unprecedented increase in executions in Iran and note that at least 834 people were executed in 2023, including 8 people linked to the nationwide protests,” the experts said. “We urge the Iranian government to stop this terrible wave of executions.”
United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk said last year that Iran had a “disgusting” track record of executions, with an average of more than 10 people being hanged each week.
