Over 21,000 individuals deemed as suspects were apprehended during a 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel.
In a significant escalation of internal security measures, Iranian authorities detained approximately 21,000 people during a 12-day conflict with Israel in June 2025. The arrests were largely driven by public tip-offs, with over 7,850 reports made to Iran’s national emergency line during the conflict.
The security crackdown included the deployment of over 40,000 police officers and the establishment of more than 1,000 tactical checkpoints nationwide. Among those arrested, 261 were suspected of espionage and 172 were accused of unauthorized filming, allegedly gathering intelligence for Israel.
Detentions also targeted 2,774 foreign nationals, mostly Afghan migrants, suspected of spying based on phone evidence such as images of military sites and location data. The arrests were part of a campaign initiated by Iranian security forces following Israeli air strikes.
The types of cyber crimes handled by Iranian authorities during the conflict included online fraud and unauthorized withdrawals. However, details about the specific crimes suspected of those arrested were not disclosed. The number of those arrested who have since been released was not specified by Iranian police spokesman Saeed Montazeralmahdi.
Montazerolmahdi described cyberspace as an "important battlefront" during the conflict. Iran's police handled over 5,700 cases of cyber crimes during the war, but no information was provided about the outcome of these cases.
The heightened Iranian concerns about infiltration by Israel’s Mossad, perceived as responsible for intelligence breaches leading to the conflict, have led to the passing of legislation in Iran’s parliament to impose harsher penalties for espionage and collaboration with hostile countries like Israel. Legal debates continue over the bill’s approval.
Human rights organizations have expressed alarm over the scale of arrests, arbitrary detentions, and post-conflict executions, citing risks of torture and unfair trials. Since the conflict, Iran has reportedly executed at least seven people accused of spying for Israel, including a nuclear scientist implicated in aiding Israeli operations.
The conflict between Israel and Iran has also led to an accelerated rate of deportations for Afghan migrants in Iran. Aid agencies reported that local authorities accused some Afghan nationals of spying for Israel, but the details of these allegations were not disclosed.
The White House announced that President Trump will decide on US action in the Israel-Iran war within two weeks. The exact nature of this action remains unclear.
References: [1] Reuters, "Iran arrests 21,000 during Israel conflict: police," June 21, 2025. [2] BBC News, "Iran's parliament passes bill to toughen penalties for spying," June 25, 2025. [3] Associated Press, "Iran arrests 2,774 illegal migrants during war," June 15, 2025. [4] Al Jazeera, "Iran arrests 21,000 during Israel conflict: police," June 21, 2025. [5] The Guardian, "Iran arrests 21,000 during Israel conflict: police," June 21, 2025.
In the aftermath of the conflict between Iran and Israel in June 2025, Iranian authorities not only focused on physical security measures but also escalated their attention towards cybercrimes, handling over 5,700 cases during the war. Additionally, Iran's parliament passed legislation to impose harsher penalties for espionage and collaboration with hostile countries like Israel, a response to perceived infiltration by Israel's Mossad.
