Iran has detained eight people suspected of attempting to transfer sensitive military intel and locations of strategic facilities to Israel's spy agency, Mossad, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Saturday. The suspects were trained by Mossad through internet websites and were detained in the northeastern part of Iran before they could carry out their plans, authorities said. Materials used to manufacture bombs, explosives, and other weapons were also seized by officials.
The step follows a 12-day war between Iran, Israel, and America, where Iranian security forces staged a series of arrests and increased surveillance countrywide. IRGC claimed the suspects were part of a larger Israeli effort to infiltrate Iranian military and nuclear activities.
State news accounts say up to 21,000 people were arrested in the June violence, but information on the bulk of the cases is not forthcoming. Iranian officials beefed up street patrols, roadblocks, and public reporting procedures to watch for potential spying or unusual behaviour. People were encouraged to report any individuals they suspected might be a threat.
The war started on June 13 with Israeli air strikes killing military men, scientists, and civilians. Iran lashed back through missile attacks on Israeli targets. At the same time, the US launched strikes on Iranian nuclear targets to support Israel in one of the largest military operations against Iran since its conflict with Iraq in the 1980s.
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Iran has recently carried out at least eight executions, most notably the August 9 hanging of nuclear scientist Rouzbeh Vadi on charges of passing intelligence to Israel. Iran has been criticized by human rights groups for using espionage charges and speedy executions as political control tools.
Authorities also documented 5,700 incidents of cybercrime, such as online scams and unauthorized financial operations, during the conflict. Police spokesman Saeed Montazerolmahdi noted that cyberspace had really turned into a "battlefront" along with traditional combat operations. The crisis has also led to the deportation of Afghan migrants and refugees suspected of spying on behalf of Israel, further straining regional tensions.
The arrests highlight Iran's ramped-up domestic security drive, the expanding use of cyber spying in contemporary warfare, and the elevated risks of espionage in the current Israel-US-Iran conflict.
