TEHRAN: Iranian authorities have arrested at least 20 people in the northwest province of West Azerbaijan on suspicion of collaborating with Israel, local media reported on Sunday.
The arrests came after raids on networks allegedly sending sensitive military and security information to Israel. Provincial prosecutor Hossein Majidi told the Fars news agency that those detained were found “sending details of military, law enforcement and security locations to the Zionist enemy.”
These Iran arrests are part of a wider security operation across the country. Local media reported that authorities have recently detained hundreds of people suspected of working with Israel or the United States.
Officials have described the actions as necessary to protect national security amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The raids targeted groups believed to have connections with foreign intelligence agencies.
The recent wave of Iran arrests comes more than two weeks after the conflict escalated. On February 28, US and Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, prompting Iranian retaliatory measures. Authorities have said that preventing espionage and foreign influence is critical in this volatile period.
Security forces in West Azerbaijan conducted thorough searches of homes and offices linked to the suspects. Weapons, communications equipment, and digital devices were reportedly seized during the operations. Investigators are continuing to examine the networks and their possible connections.
Analysts say these Iran arrests highlight the growing concerns in Tehran about internal threats during the ongoing war. Officials have emphasized that cooperation with hostile foreign powers will not be tolerated and that more arrests could follow as investigations progress.
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The government has called on citizens to report suspicious activity. Authorities stressed that protecting sensitive information is vital for national defense and regional stability.
