Israeli Spies Arrested: Iranian Authorities Crack Down on Suspected Informants Feeding Military Data to Israel

Around 20 people were arrested on Tuesday, 10 March in Iran amid intensifying military tension with Israel and the US according to the Intelligence Ministry. Officials say the arrests are tied to intelligence leaks that allegedly helped guide Israeli and US strikes on Iranian targets.

In a Reuters report, Iran has recently been the target of airstrikes from the US and Israel. On 28 February, the Middle Eastern country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with military commanders, was killed during the attack.

Arrests Reported Across Multiple Regions

Iranian state media reported that arrests occurred in several provinces across the country. In one case, at least 20 people in northwestern Iran were detained for allegedly sending information about military facilities to Israeli intelligence services, while others were accused of photographing strike locations and sharing footage with foreign contacts.

Of the 20 people arrested in northwestern Iran, one is reportedly a foreign national. The Intelligence Ministry of Iran claimed the foreign national was 'conducting espionage on behalf of the United States and Israel, and acting as a proxy for two Gulf countries,' as reported by state media.

According to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, 10 additional individuals were also detained in northeastern Iran, where authorities allege some suspects gathered intelligence on important facilities and economic infrastructure. Though the region has largely avoided airstrikes, it's still considered sensitive due to the presence of strategic sites.

The Revolutionary Guards intelligence organisation said, 'As the Zionist enemy (Israel) and the US are attempting to invade Iran, they simultaneously activate mercenaries and spies to carry out riots as the next step,' as shared by The Independent.

Iranian officials have not publicly released details about the identities of those detained or evidence supporting the accusations the individuals are facing.

Separately, the Student News Network reported that three people were arrested in the western province of Lorestan. Authorities accused them of attempting to disturb public opinion and burning mourning symbols during a tense period in the country.

Rising Tensions

The arrests come as the conflict between Iran and Israel intensifies. According to a source briefed on Israeli military strategy, recent strikes in Iran have included targeting security checkpoints using intelligence provided by informants on the ground.

Weeks before the the current conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran erupted, the country had already been gripped by widespread anti-government demonstrations in January. Iranian authorities responded with a sweeping crackdown described as the most lethal in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Officials blamed foreign interference for the unrest, accusing Israel and the United States of instigating what they characterised as 'violent riots' intended to destabilise the government and topple the clerical establishment.

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with NBC that he is 'not ready' to make a ceasefire deal with Iran just yet. He said that 'the terms aren't good enough yet.'

Iran Defends Espionage Allegation Arrests

In recent years, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has detained a number of dual nationals and foreigners on accusations tied to security-related charges, including espionage. Human rights advocates have argued that the Islamic Republic of Iran sometimes uses such detentions as leverage in dealing with other governments, a claim Tehran firmly rejects.

The ministry said that over the past few days, '30 spies, internal mercenaries, and operational agents of Israel and the US' had been detained. Last week, Police chief Radan told state television that 81 individuals were detained for 'sharing internal Iranian information with hostile media and enemies' without giving more details on the allegations and the identities of the individuals.