Iran’s judiciary announced on Saturday the arrest of 20 individuals accused of operating as agents for Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, in the latest development amid sharply escalating tensions between the two nations.
Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangiri, addressing reporters in Tehran, stated that authorities will show “no leniency” towards those found guilty of espionage. He stressed that the judiciary is committed to imposing firm and exemplary punishments on the alleged spies, sending a strong warning to any individuals engaged in similar activities.
According to Jahangiri, some of the suspects have already been released after charges against them were dropped. However, he declined to specify how many individuals had been cleared, noting that further details would be made public once the investigation concludes.
The arrests come just days after the execution of Iranian nuclear scientist Rouzbeh Vadi, who was convicted of passing classified information to Israel. State media reported that Vadi had provided details about another Iranian nuclear scientist who was subsequently killed during Israel’s air strikes on Iran in June.
This latest round of arrests underscores a broader pattern of intensified counterintelligence activity in Iran. In recent months, the country has carried out at least eight executions of individuals convicted of spying for Israel, marking a notable increase in such cases compared to previous years.
The developments follow a deadly escalation in June, when Israel launched a 12-day air campaign against Iranian military and nuclear facilities. The strikes targeted senior generals, nuclear scientists, and strategic infrastructure, as well as some residential areas. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Israeli territory, deepening the conflict.
According to the Iranian human rights group HRANA, the Israeli strikes in June killed at least 1,190 people, including 436 civilians and 435 security personnel. The ongoing cycle of attacks and counterattacks has heightened regional instability, with intelligence and espionage operations now playing an increasingly prominent role in the confrontation between Tehran and Tel Aviv.
