Iranian authorities have arrested multiple times after several people suspected of establishing ties with Israeli intelligence agencies after the recent war between the two countries.
This follows what officials say is an unprecedented infiltration of Iranian security services by Israeli agents.
Authorities suspect that the information provided to Israel played a role in a series of high-profile assassinations during the conflict. These include targeted killings against senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and nuclear scientists, which Iran attributes to agents working within the country by Israel’s Mossad intelligence agencies.
Shocked by the scale and accuracy of these killings, authorities have been targeting anyone suspected of using foreign intelligence work, saying it was for national security.
But many people are worried that this is also a way to silently disagree and tighten control over the population.
During the 12-day conflict, Iranian authorities executed three people accused of surveillance at Israel. Wednesday – the day after the ceasefire – three others were also charged with execution.
Since then, officials have announced the arrest of hundreds of suspects nationwide for spying charges. State TV announced the confessions of several detainees, allegedly admitting to working with the Israeli Intelligence Agency.
Human rights groups and activists have expressed concern over the latest developments, citing Iran’s long-standing practice of extracting forced confessions and conducting unfair trials. There are concerns that there may be more execution.
The Iranian Intelligence Department claims it is engaged in a “ruthless battle” with so-called Western and Israeli intelligence networks, including the CIA, Mossad and MI6.
According to the Fars News agency associated with the IRGC, since the Israeli attack on Iran on June 13, “the Israeli spy network has become very active in the country”. Fars reported that over 12 days, Iranian intelligence and security forces arrested “more than 700 people related to the network.”
The Iranians told the BBC Persian that they received a warning text from the Iranian Intelligence Department telling them that their phone number appears on social media pages related to Israel. They were directed to leave these pages or face prosecution.
The Iranian government has also increased pressure on journalists working abroad in Persian media, including BBC Persian and London-based Iran International and Manotto TV.
According to Iran International, the IRGC detained the mother, father and brother of one of its TV hosts in Tehran to urge her to resign in order to resign from the channel’s coverage of the Iran-Israel conflict. The host received a call from her father – at a reminder from security staff – urging her to resign and warn of further consequences.
After the conflict began, threats against BBC Persian journalists and their families became increasingly serious. According to recent reports from reporters, Iranian security officials contacted their families and in wartime situations they had reason to target family members as hostages. They also label journalists as “Mohareb”, a meaning ‘the person who initiates a war with God’ – under Iranian law, the death penalty can be borne.
Manoto TV reported similar incidents, including threats to employees’ families and requested that all contacts with the media be kept. Some relatives are reportedly threatened by allegations such as “hate against God” and espionage, which are mandated by Iranian law.
Analysts see these strategies as part of a broader strategy to silence dissent and intimidate exiled media workers.
In many cases, security forces also detained dozens of activists, writers and artists without formal charges. It is also reported that those arrested during the 2022 “Women, Life, Freedom” anti-government protests were arrested.
These actions show that the broader movement targets not only current activists, but also activities related to previous waves of dissent.
During the war, the Iranian government severely restricted access to the Internet, and even after the ceasefire, full access has not been restored. Limiting internet access during the crisis, especially during protests against the government across the country, has become a common model in Iran. Additionally, most social networks such as Instagram, Telegram, X and YouTube, as well as news sites such as BBC Persian have long been blocked in Iran and cannot be accessed without using Virtual Private Network (VPN) proxy services.
Human rights advocates and political observers have similarities with the 1980s, when Iranian authorities brutally suppressed political opposition during the Iran-Iraq War.
Many fear that after the weakening of international stance after the conflict with Israel, Iranian authorities may turn inward again, resorting to mass arrests, executions and severe repression.
Critics point out that the 1988 incident, according to human rights groups, thousands of political prisoners (many already served their sentences) were executed after a brief and secret trial of the so-called “Death Commission.” Most of the victims were buried in unmarked group graves.
