Iran Says It Arrested 21,000 ‘Suspects’ Over Fears Of Israel Collaboration During War

Iranian authorities detained as many as 21,000 people during the nation’s 12-day conflict with Israel in June, a police spokesperson announced Tuesday, according to state-run media.

The arrests began after Israeli airstrikes commenced on June 13, triggering a sweeping internal security operation. Iranian forces increased their visibility on the streets, set up more checkpoints, and encouraged “public reports,” asking citizens to alert authorities about anyone they considered suspicious.

“There was a 41% increase in calls by the public, which led to the arrest of 21,000 suspects during the 12-day war,” police spokesperson Saeid Montazerolmahdi said. While he did not detail the specific allegations against those detained, Iranian officials have previously accused individuals of passing information that could aid Israeli targeting.

The war also intensified Iran’s deportation campaign against Afghan migrants suspected of being in the country illegally. Aid organizations say local authorities have even accused some Afghans of spying for Israel.

“Law enforcement rounded up 2,774 illegal migrants and discovered 30 special security cases by examining their phones. 261 suspects of espionage and 172 people accused of unauthorized filming were also arrested,” Montazerolmahdi stated.

He did not indicate how many of those detained have since been freed.

Montazerolmahdi further noted that during the fighting, Iranian police dealt with over 5,700 cybercrime cases, including online fraud and unauthorized financial withdrawals. He described the digital domain as having become “cyberspace into an important battlefront.”

{Matzav.com}