Tehran intensifies internal security measures following 12-day conflict with Israel, executing six and detaining over 700 on espionage charges
Following a 12-day conflict with Israel that concluded with a ceasefire on June 24, 2025, Iranian authorities have executed six individuals accused of espionage for Israel and arrested more than 700 others across multiple provinces.
The crackdown, described as one of the most extensive in recent years, targets individuals alleged to have collaborated with Israeli intelligence agencies.
The Iranian judiciary reported that three men—Idris Ali, Azad Shojai, and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul—were executed on June 25 for smuggling equipment purportedly used in an assassination plot.
These executions occurred in Urmia Prison, located in Iran's West Azerbaijan province.
The detainees are accused of various activities, including directing suicide drones, constructing improvised explosive devices, photographing sensitive military sites, and transmitting information to Israeli operatives.
Authorities claim to have seized over 10,000 micro-drones in Tehran alone.
The arrests were concentrated in the provinces of Kermanshah, Isfahan, Khuzestan, Fars, Lorestan, and the capital, Tehran.
Iranian officials have announced plans to revise espionage laws to allow for expedited trials and harsher penalties, including the death sentence, under wartime conditions.
Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the fairness of the judicial processes, citing reports of forced confessions and lack of due process.
The executions and mass arrests have drawn international attention, with calls for transparency and adherence to international legal standards.
The internal crackdown follows significant losses for Iran during the conflict, including the deaths of over 600 individuals and substantial damage to nuclear infrastructure.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remained out of public view during the hostilities, leading to speculation about his health and the regime's stability.
The government's response appears aimed at reasserting control and deterring further dissent amid ongoing tensions.