Mass Arrests and Public Warnings Reflect Mounting Anxiety Over Mossad Infiltration
Iran has arrested dozens of individuals in recent days on suspicion of espionage, reflecting heightened paranoia over Israeli intelligence operations following a wave of Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
Authorities in Tehran report that 28 people have been detained in the capital alone on accusations of spying for Israel. Separately, a man previously arrested on similar charges was executed on Monday in what appears to be a signal to deter others from collaborating with foreign intelligence.
Beyond espionage, the government has expanded its crackdown to include citizens accused of sharing online content perceived as supportive of Israel. In Isfahan, where Israel claims to have struck a nuclear facility, 60 people were arrested for allegedly threatening public morale.
The arrests come in the wake of revelations that operatives linked to Israel’s Mossad smuggled weapons into Iran before last week’s assault. These weapons, reportedly used to launch internal attacks, have triggered a surge in public warnings from Iran’s Intelligence Ministry, which has urged citizens to report anything unusual.
Authorities have issued guidance on identifying suspicious behavior. Official bulletins warn the public to be alert to individuals wearing “masks, hats, and sunglasses, even at night,” or those receiving frequent package deliveries. Other signs flagged include homes with curtains drawn during daylight hours or strange noises such as metallic clanging and screaming.
Posters published by state-aligned media and law enforcement have advised landlords to report new tenants to authorities and encouraged citizens to monitor any behavior deemed out of the ordinary. The campaign reflects a broader climate of fear and suspicion in the country.
Journalists have also reported restrictions on street photography, signaling an increase in censorship and control over public narratives.
The Basij, a paramilitary unit under Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, has taken to the streets for nighttime patrols aimed at boosting surveillance in urban areas, further underscoring the state’s determination to counter internal threats.
Iranian officials say that swift justice will be applied to anyone suspected of working with foreign intelligence. One official emphasized that during what he described as wartime conditions, collaborators must be “prosecuted swiftly and punished swiftly.”
Reports from Israeli officials have outlined a complex operation in which Mossad agents allegedly smuggled explosive drones and other precision weapons into Iran. These arms were used to strike surface-to-air missile systems and missile launchers near Tehran, paving the way for a broad aerial campaign that included more than 100 Israeli strikes carried out by over 200 aircraft.
Iranian media say security forces have since confiscated weapons and materials linked to the operation in the city of Rey, including suicide drones, launchers, and explosives.
The wave of arrests and growing surveillance measures reflect not only the depth of the current security crisis but also the Iranian regime’s increasing sense of vulnerability in the face of foreign penetration and domestic unrest.
