Iranian officials have carried out a wave of arrest and several execution of suspected people of the link of Israeli intelligence agencies, in view of the recent war between the two countries.
This comes when the authorities have described an unprecedented intrusion of Iranian security services by Israeli agents.
Officials suspect that the information given to Israel played a role in a series of high-profile killers during the conflict. This included the targeted murders of the elite Islamic revolutionary guard corps (IRGC) and senior commanders of nuclear scientists, who are responsible for the operators of Mossad Intelligence Agency of Israel, working inside the country.
These murders were shaken by the scale and accuracy, the authorities have targeted anyone on suspicion of working with foreign intelligence, saying that it is for national security.
But this is also a way of tightening dissatisfaction and control over the population for many fear.
During the 12-day struggle, Iranian officials killed three people accused of spying for Israel. On Wednesday – exactly one day after the ceasefire – three more persons were killed in similar allegations.
The authorities have since announced the arrest of hundreds of suspects across the country on espionage allegations. The state’s television has transmitted alleged conflict from several prisoners, allegedly admitted to cooperation with Israeli intelligence.
Human rights groups and activists have expressed apprehension over the latest developments, cited long practice of Iran’s forcible admission and conducting improper tests. There are concerns that can follow more execution.
Iran’s intelligence ministry claims that it is engaged in a “tireless fight” that it includes CIA, Mossad and Mi6.
According to the FARS news agency, which is affiliated to IRGC, since the onset of Israel’s attack on Iran on 13 June, “The Israeli detective network has become highly active inside the country”. FARS reported that during 12 days, Iranian intelligence and security forces arrested “more than 700 persons associated with this network”.
The Iranians have told the BBC Persian that they have received a warning message from Iran’s intelligence ministry, stating that their phone number appeared on the social media pages related to Israel. They were instructed to leave these pages or face prosecution.
The Iranian government has increased pressure on journalists working for Persian-language media outlets abroad, including BBC Persian and London-based Iran International and Manoto TV.
According to Iran International, the IRGC detained the mother, father and brother of one of its TV presenter in Tehran to pressurize the coverage of the Iran-Israel struggle channel. The presenter received a phone call from his father – indicated by security agents – urged him to leave and warn of further results.
After the conflict began, the threats directed to BBC Persian journalists and their families have become increasingly serious. According to recently affected journalists, Iranian security authorities were contacting their families, claiming that, in the context of a war, they are appropriate to target family members as hostages. He has also labeled journalists as a “mohreb” – a word which means ‘who works for war against God’ – an accusation that can carry forward the death penalty, under the Iranian law.
Manoti TV has reported similar incidents, including threats against the families of the employees and the demand to cut all relations with the outlets. Some relatives were allegedly threatened with allegations such as “enmity against God” and espionage – both the capital offenses under the Iranian law.
Analysts see these strategies as part of a comprehensive strategy to be seen as a comprehensive strategy to scare exile and exile media employees.
Security forces have detained dozens of activists, writers and artists in several cases without formal allegations. There are also reports of targeting family members of those killed during “Women, Life, Freedom”.
These actions suggest a comprehensive campaign not only for the purpose of the current workers but also on the people associated with the previous waves of dissatisfaction.
During the war, the Iranian government severely banned access to the Internet, and even after the ceasefire, the entire access has not yet been restored. Limiting the internet access during crises, especially during the nationwide protests against the government, has become a common pattern by Iran. Additionally, most social networks such as Instagram, Telegram, X and YouTube, as well as news websites such as BBC Persian have long been blocked in Iran and cannot be accessed without using the virtual private network (VPN) proxy service.
Human rights advocates and political supervisors have drawn similarities in the 1980s, when Iranian officials suppressed political opposition during the Iran-Iraq war.
There are many fears that, after Iran’s struggle with Israel at the weak international level, officials may again come to arrive, resort to large-scale arrest, execution and heavy repression.
Critics point to the 1988 events, when, according to human rights groups, thousands of political prisoners – many already serving sentences – were executed after brief, secret tests by the so -called “death commissions”. Most of the victims were buried in collective graves.
