Iranian security forces are cracking down on alleged spies and collaborators across the country [Getty]
Iranian authorities say they have arrested dozens of people on charges of espionage, links to foreign entities, and plotting unrest as security forces carry out a nationwide crackdown during the US and Israel’s ongoing war on the country.
Iran’s Public Security Police said on Saturday that over the past 72 hours it had delivered “strong blows” to what it described as “criminal monarchist supporters and spies” in cooperation with intelligence agencies and the judiciary.
Police said 54 people were arrested for allegedly leading riots and attacking public and private property.
According to Iranian state television, authorities also detained two people accused of sending the coordinates of sensitive locations to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. The suspects were also accused of filming restricted areas and sites hit by missile strikes and sending the footage to opposition media outlets.
Police added that 11 people were shot after resisting security forces. Authorities also seized three firearms, 76 bladed weapons, a hand grenade and quantities of ammunition.
Human rights groups have long accused Iran of using espionage and national-security charges to suppress dissent. Organisations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch say such accusations are often brought against activists, journalists and critics, particularly during periods of unrest or geopolitical tension.
In a separate development, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in Qom province, south of Tehran, announced the arrest of 13 people suspected of involvement in activities “against security”.
Officials said three banned Starlink satellite internet systems were also confiscated along with 1,400 bladed weapons including knives, swords and daggers discovered at a checkpoint at the entrance to Qom province.
Authorities in Kerman province in southeastern Iran also announced the arrest of 14 people accused of working for the US and Israel and planning acts that threatened internal security.
The province’s public prosecutor warned that national security was “a red line”, adding that the Islamic Republic “will deal firmly with anyone who undermines the security of citizens”.
Iran’s Fars news agency quoted Kerman prosecutor Mehdi Bakhshi as saying the suspects were working in “organised networks” aimed at influencing public opinion and mobilising unrest in line with attacks carried out by what he described as “aggressive forces”.
He added that investigations into the detainees were ongoing.
Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence also said on Saturday that it had dismantled what it described as “mercenary cells affiliated with the American-Zionist enemy” across three provinces.
According to Iranian television, the ministry said security forces arrested a ten-member cell in Mazandaran province on the Caspian Sea and another ten-member cell in Razavi Khorasan province in eastern Iran.
Officials said members of the two cells had been providing the “aggressor enemy” with information on military sites and economic infrastructure.
Authorities also announced the dismantling of a “terrorist cell” in Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran consisting of three people.
Officials said the group had recently carried out an armed attack targeting security forces and public locations, which authorities said had disrupted security.
Earlier this week, Iran’s intelligence ministry announced the arrest of 30 people described as “spies and field and media agents” linked to the United States, Israel and groups Tehran labels as “terrorist”.
The ministry said those detained included a foreign national accused of spying for two unnamed Gulf states.
According to the statement, the individual was arrested in Razavi Khorasan province and accused of collecting military and security information and sending it to those countries.
