Yaghoub Karimpour sentenced to death on charges of 'espionage for Israel'

Hengaw – Wednesday, December 24, 2025

The Iranian judiciary has sentenced Yaghoub Karimpour, a Turkish resident of Miandoab, to death on charges related to “espionage for Israel.” He was arrested during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel.

Information received by Hengaw Organization for Human Rights indicates that Karimpour, a graduate in public law from Miandoab, was sentenced to death by Branch One of the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Urmia on charges of “corruption on earth” through “espionage for Israel.”

During his detention at the Miandoab Intelligence Department detention center, Karimpour was subjected to physical and psychological pressure in an attempt to extract forced confessions. In addition, his wife, Saboura Lotfi, was arrested to intensify psychological pressure, and her access to psychiatric and neurological medication was cut off.

Karimpour, who was receiving support from the State Welfare Organization, was arrested by Intelligence Ministry forces in Miandoab on June 16, 2025, and transferred to the Intelligence Ministry detention facility in Urmia.

Following the filing of an appeal by his lawyer, Yaghoub Karimpour’s case has been referred to Branch 9 of the Supreme Court.