Iran conducts a series of arrests and executions following the conflict with Israel

 A mural in Tehran's Enqelab Square

Iranian officials have launched a series of arrests and executed several individuals believed to have connections with Israeli intelligence agencies, following the recent conflict between the two nations.

This action follows what authorities are calling an unprecedented breach of Iranian security forces by Israeli operatives.

Officials suspect that intelligence provided to Israel contributed to a number of high-profile assassinations throughout the conflict. This includes the targeted killings of top commanders from the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and nuclear scientists, which Iran claims were carried out by agents of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency operating within its borders.

Disturbed by the magnitude and accuracy of these murders, officials have been focusing on anyone believed to be collaborating with foreign intelligence, claiming it is necessary for national security.

However, many are concerned that this is also a method to suppress opposition and strengthen control over the populace.

Throughout the 12-day conflict, Iranian officials executed three individuals accused of spying for Israel. On Wednesday - merely a day after the ceasefire - three additional people were executed on similar allegations.

Since then, authorities have reported the detention of hundreds of suspects nationwide on charges of espionage. State television has broadcast supposed confessions from several detainees, who allegedly admitted to working with Israeli intelligence.

Human rights organizations and activists have voiced their apprehensions regarding the recent developments, pointing to Iran's enduring habit of obtaining coerced confessions and holding unjust trials. There are worries that additional executions could ensue.

Iran's Ministry of Intelligence asserts that it is involved in a "ceaseless struggle" against what it refers to as Western and Israeli intelligence agencies - including the CIA, Mossad, and MI6.

As reported by Fars News Agency, which has ties to the IRGC, since the onset of Israel's assault on Iran on June 13, "the Israeli espionage network has become significantly active within the nation." Fars indicated that during a span of 12 days, Iranian intelligence and security forces apprehended "over 700 individuals associated with this network". Individuals in Iran have informed BBC Persian that they received warning text messages from the Iranian intelligence ministry, notifying them that their phone numbers had been listed on social media platforms connected to Israel. They were advised to remove themselves from these pages or risk facing legal action. Additionally, the Iranian government has intensified its pressure on journalists affiliated with Persian-language media organizations abroad, including BBC Persian, as well as the London-based Iran International and Manoto TV.

As reported by Iran International, the IRGC has taken into custody the mother, father, and brother of one of its television presenters in Tehran in an effort to coerce her into resigning due to the channel's reporting on the Iran-Israel conflict. The presenter received a call from her father, instigated by security agents, urging her to step down and cautioning her about potential repercussions.

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Since the onset of the conflict, the threats aimed at BBC Persian journalists and their families have escalated significantly. Journalists who have recently been targeted report that Iranian security officials have reached out to their families, asserting that in the context of war, it is permissible to treat family members as hostages. Furthermore, these officials have referred to the journalists as "mohareb" — a term that translates to 'one who wages war against God' — a serious accusation that can result in the death penalty under Iranian law. Manoto TV has also documented similar occurrences, including threats made against the families of its employees and demands for them to sever all connections with the network. Some family members have allegedly been threatened with accusations such as "enmity against God" and espionage, both of which are capital crimes under Iranian law.

  Manoto TV has also documented similar occurrences, including threats made against the families of its employees and demands for them to sever all connections with the network. Some family members have allegedly been threatened with accusations such as "enmity against God" and espionage, both of which are capital crimes under Iranian law.

Analysts perceive these tactics as components of a larger strategy aimed at suppressing dissent and intimidating exiled media professionals. Security forces have detained numerous activists, writers, and artists, often without any formal charges. There are also reports indicating arrests targeting the family members of individuals who lost their lives during the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" anti-government protests. These actions imply a wider campaign directed not only at current activists but also at those associated with earlier movements of dissent. Throughout the war, the Iranian government imposed severe restrictions on internet access, and even after the ceasefire, complete access has yet to be reinstated. The limitation of internet access during crises, particularly during nationwide protests against the government, has become a recurring pattern in Iran. Furthermore, most social media platforms such as Instagram, Telegram, X, and YouTube, along with news sites like BBC Persian, have been blocked in Iran for an extended period and can only be accessed through a Virtual Private Network (VPN) proxy service.

Analysts perceive these tactics as components of a larger strategy aimed at suppressing dissent and intimidating exiled media professionals. Security forces have detained numerous activists, writers, and artists, often without any formal charges. There are also reports indicating arrests targeting the family members of individuals who lost their lives during the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" anti-government protests. These actions imply a wider campaign directed not only at current activists but also at those associated with earlier movements of dissent.

During the conflict, the Iranian government imposed strict limitations on internet access, and even after the ceasefire, complete access has yet to be reinstated. Restricting internet access during emergencies, particularly during widespread protests against the government, has become a recurring trend in Iran. Furthermore, many social media platforms such as Instagram, Telegram, X, and YouTube, along with news sites like BBC Persian, have been blocked in Iran for an extended period and can only be accessed through a Virtual Private Network (VPN) proxy service. Human rights activists and political analysts have drawn comparisons to the 1980s, a time when Iranian authorities violently quelled political dissent during the Iran-Iraq War. There are growing concerns that, following its diminished international reputation after the conflict with Israel, the Iranian government may once again turn to internal repression, leading to mass arrests, executions, and severe crackdowns. Critics reference the events of 1988, when, as reported by human rights organizations, thousands of political prisoners—many of whom were already serving sentences—were executed after brief, secret trials conducted by so-called "death commissions." Most of the victims were interred in unmarked mass graves.

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