DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran executed three more prisoners Wednesday over allegedly spying for Israel, its state-run IRNA news agency reported, the latest hangings connected to its war with Israel.
The hangings happened in Urmia Prison in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province, which is the country’s most northwest province.
IRNA cited Iran’s judiciary for the news, saying the men had been accused of bringing “assassination equipment” into the country.
Iran has carried out several hangings during its war with Israel, sparking fears from activists that it could conduct a wave of executions after the conflict ended.
Iran identified the three men executed as Azad Shojaei, Edris Aali and Iraqi national Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul. Amnesty International had previously raised concerns that the men could be executed.
Wednesday’s execution bring the total number of hangings for espionage around the war up to six since June 16. Activists fear more people will be executed, particularly after Iran's theocracy issued a Sunday deadline for people to turn themselves in over spying.
In Israel, at least 28 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded in the war. Hundreds have died throughout the war in Iran, according to both the government — which has provided sporadic casualty figures throughout the war — and the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists.
Iran’s government on Tuesday put the death toll at 606 people killed, with 5,332 others being injured. Human Rights Activists released figures Wednesday showing Israeli strikes on Iran have killed at least 1,054 people and wounded 4,476 others.
The group, which has provided detailed casualty figures from multiple rounds of unrest in Iran, said of those killed, it identified 417 civilians and 318 security force personnel.
People in Iran, meanwhile, began trying to return to their normal lives as a shaky ceasefire with Israel, negotiated by President Donald Trump, appeared to be holding.
State media described heavy traffic around the Caspian Sea area and other rural areas outside of the capital, Tehran, as people began returning to the city.
Tehran experienced intense Israeli airstrikes throughout the war, including those that targeted Iran’s top military leadership and other sites associated with its ruling theocracy.
Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press
