Iran’s government announced that it arrested 21,000 “suspects” during a 12-day conflict with Israel and the United States in June. The arrests followed massive Israeli airstrikes and a heightened security presence throughout the country. According to a police spokesperson, a significant number of these arrests resulted from citizens being encouraged to report suspicious individuals, leading to a 41% increase in public calls to authorities. The conflict, which involved US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites on Israel’s behalf, prompted a widespread security crackdown.
While the specific charges for all those arrested were not disclosed, Tehran has previously indicated that some individuals may have been involved in espionage. The government also confirmed that since the end of the conflict, seven men have been executed for allegedly spying for Israel. The spokesperson noted that over 5,700 cybercrime cases were handled during the same period, underscoring the importance of digital space as a “battlefront.” The arrests and subsequent actions highlight the tense and volatile state of affairs in the region.
Additional Sources:
Iran arrests 21,000 suspects during 12-day war with Israel, US
Iran police say 21,000 people arrested in 12-day conflict
