Iranian authorities have launched a wave of arrests and executions targeting individuals suspected of links to Israeli intelligence agencies, following the recent 12-day war between the two countries.
According to Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), over 700 individuals linked to Israel’s spy network were arrested during the conflict. The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence claims it is engaged in a “relentless battle” against Western and Israeli intelligence networks.
The crackdown comes after officials described an unprecedented infiltration of Iranian security services by Israeli agents. Authorities suspect that information fed to Israel played a role in high-profile assassinations during the conflict, including targeted killings of senior IRGC commanders and nuclear scientists attributed to Mossad operatives.
Shaken by the scale and precision of these killings, authorities have targeted anyone suspected of working with foreign intelligence, citing national security concerns.
However, many fear this crackdown is also a means to silence dissent and tighten control over the population. During the conflict, Iranian authorities executed three people accused of spying for Israel, and three more individuals were executed on similar charges just one day after the ceasefire.
Officials announced the arrest of hundreds of suspects across the country on accusations of espionage, with state television airing alleged confessions from detainees who purportedly admitted to collaborating with Israeli intelligence.
Human rights groups and activists have expressed concerns over the latest developments, citing Iran’s history of extracting forced confessions and conducting unfair trials.
There are fears that more executions may follow. The Iranian government’s pressure on journalists working for Persian-language media outlets abroad has also intensified, with some detaining family members to pressure them into resigning over their coverage of the Iran-Israel conflict.