Iran arrests dozens it accused of spying for Israel in nationwide crackdown

Officials said the detainees were accused of providing Israel with details about military, police, and other security locations.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Iranian authorities said over the weekend they detained dozens of people accused of spying for Israel and transmitting sensitive information about military and infrastructure targets, according to reports from state-linked media.

The arrests were reported across several provinces and involved multiple alleged networks.

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence said security forces detained several “enemy operatives” nationwide.

Tasnim, a semi-official news agency, reported that investigators uncovered two networks, including a 10-member group in Mazandaran province and another 10-member network in Khorasan Razavi province.

Authorities alleged that those detained transferred information about military facilities and economic infrastructure and passed coordinates of public places, academic institutions, and research centers to Israel.

Separately, prosecutors in West Azerbaijan province arrested 20 suspects in the northwestern city of Urmia, according to Fars, a news agency affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Officials said the detainees were accused of providing Israel with details about military, police, and other security locations.

In southern Iran, intelligence officials in Khuzestan province reported the arrest of a three-person group described as a “terrorist team.”

The suspects were accused of carrying out armed attacks against security forces and government facilities.

The arrests come as reports suggest Israel has received assistance from inside Iran in identifying potential targets.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Israel has relied on tips from ordinary Iranians to identify targets for strikes inside the country, citing a senior Israeli security official.

According to the report, information about possible targets is sent through Israeli Persian-language social media accounts and verified before strikes are carried out.