Dozens of people accused of collaborating with Israel have been apprehended across various regions of Iran, local media reported on Sunday, amid ongoing Israeli and US airstrikes targeting the country.
In northwestern Iran, the semi-official Tasnim news agency stated that 20 people were arrested after being accused by the provincial prosecutor’s office of transmitting location data on Iran’s military and security assets to Israel.
Further east, in a region largely untouched by the recent air campaign, Tasnim also reported the arrest of 10 individuals, some of whom are alleged to have gathered intelligence on sensitive sites and economic infrastructure.
A provincial branch of the Revolutionary Guards’ intelligence organisation commented on the situation, according to Tasnim: “As the Zionist enemy (Israel) and the U.S. are attempting to invade Iran, they simultaneously activate mercenaries and spies to carry out riots as the next step.”
Separately, the Student News Network reported the detention of three people in the western province of Lorestan for “seeking to disturb public opinion (…) and burn mourning symbols.”
These arrests coincide with a new phase in Israel’s assault on Iran, which now includes targeting security checkpoints based on intelligence from informants on the ground, a source briefed on Israel’s military strategy told Reuters this week.
The current tensions follow widespread anti-government protests in Iran in January, weeks before the US and Israel launched their current military actions.
These demonstrations were met with a deadly crackdown, which authorities had previously attributed to Israel and the US, accusing them of fomenting “violent riots” aimed at destabilising the clerical establishment.
Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump told NBC in an interview on Saturday that he is “not ready” to agree a ceasefire deal with Iran at this stage.
Trump added that “the terms aren’t good enough yet” as he called on allies to send warships to help end the blockade in the region.
