Iran claims to have detained approximately 21,000 individuals deemed as suspects during a 12-day conflict with Israel.
In the aftermath of the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in June, Iranian authorities have stepped up their efforts to combat security violations and cyber crimes.
During the conflict, Iranian police arrested approximately 21,000 suspects, out of which 2,774 were accused of spying, with evidence such as photos of military positions and location data found on their phones. An additional 261 individuals were suspected of espionage, and 172 were detained for unauthorized filming. These arrests reflect Iranian concerns about infiltration by Israel's Mossad and internal dissent.
Iranian authorities have also been active in handling cyber crimes. During the war, the police handled over 5,700 cases of cyber crimes, including online fraud and unauthorized withdrawals.
The crackdown on spies has led to executions of some accused individuals, such as nuclear scientist Rouzbeh Vadi, who was charged with providing sensitive information that assisted Israeli operations. The intensified security response corresponds with recent legislative attempts to increase penalties for espionage and collaboration with Israel.
Human rights groups have expressed concern over the scale of arrests, the targeting of ethnic minorities and activists, and potential abuses such as torture and unfair trials. Iranian security forces have increased their street presence and encouraged citizens to report suspicious activities, leading to a large number of arrests during and after the conflict.
Local authorities in Iran have accused some Afghan nationals of spying for Israel. However, the details of the spying allegations against Afghan nationals were not provided.
The conflict between Israel and Iran did not provide any specific context about the nature of the war or the actions of either party. It is known, however, that the Israel-Iran conflict has led to an accelerated rate of deportations for Afghan migrants believed to be illegally in Iran.
Reports suggest a complex espionage environment involving both sides, with allegations of Israeli citizens allegedly working for Iranian agents online, carrying out covert acts ranging from vandalism to assassination plots.
In summary, the main accusations against the arrested suspects include espionage and spying for Israel, collaboration with hostile foreign governments, unauthorized filming of sensitive sites, and security violations connected to intelligence leaks. These charges underpin Iran’s broad security crackdown in the wake of the war with Israel.
Politics in Iran have gained a strong focus on security and intelligence matters, with the general-news of the 12-day war between Israel and Iran serving as a catalyst for intensified enforcement. The crackdown on alleged spies and cyber criminals has extended beyond the war, leading to a surge in arrests for espionage, unauthorized filming, and online fraud. Crime-and-justice issues, such as the alleged spying by some Afghan nationals, are becoming increasingly intertwined with political and national security concerns within Iran.
