Iran’s Spy Crackdown: Three Executed, 700 Arrested
Iran has arrested over 700 individuals accused of having ties to an Israeli espionage network amid heightened tensions following a nearly two-week conflict with Israel. According to Iranian state-linked media, these arrests took place within 12 days after Israel launched a broad air campaign targeting Iranian military, nuclear, and government sites. The detainees are alleged to have engaged in espionage and sabotage activities, including controlling drones, building explosives, photographing sensitive installations, and transmitting intelligence to Israeli forces. Iranian authorities also seized more than 10,000 micro aerial vehicles (drones) in Tehran alone. These arrests come as part of a wider crackdown on suspected collaborators, with Iran’s judiciary prosecuting suspects under emergency wartime laws.
In addition to the mass arrests, Iran executed three men convicted of collaborating with Israel’s Mossad, including smuggling equipment used in an assassination. These executions and arrests follow a US-brokered ceasefire that ended the recent hostilities but have underscored Tehran’s determination to dismantle what it describes as a vast Israeli spy network operating inside the country. The crackdown reflects deep mistrust within Iran’s security institutions and ongoing efforts to prevent further infiltration amid escalating regional tensions. Human rights groups have condemned the executions, while Iran continues to expand legal measures to address espionage during this heightened period of conflict.