Iran has arrested over 500 people over alleged ties to Israeli intelligence since the Iran-Israel conflict started less than two weeks ago, according to a human rights organization.
More than 530 people were arrested across Iran since the rapidly escalating conflict began on June 13, the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights detailed in a report released Sunday. Some charges include espionage committed on behalf of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, “propaganda against the state” of Iran, and “spreading public anxiety.”
At least 30 women, two Afghans, and three Europeans were among the 530 detained. Over 60 arrests were made in both Iranian provinces of Khuzestan and Tehran.
Hengaw, which monitors human rights violations in the Kurdistan region and Iran, says Iranian authorities carried out these arrests to preserve national security.
Iran also executed a political prisoner named Majid Masibi on Sunday over charges of Israeli espionage, per the human rights group. Masibi reportedly did not receive a fair trial before his death. Hengaw called his execution a “politically motivated reprisal.”
A man identified as Mohammad-Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh was executed by hanging on Monday, the Times of Israel reported. He had been detained since 2023. Shayesteh allegedly held ties to Mossad and collaborated with Iran International, a Persian-language broadcast channel critical of the Iranian regime.
Iran believes the London-based broadcaster is linked to Israel.
Hengaw “strongly condemns the ongoing wave of arrests and executions carried out under the guise of national security,” it said in a statement. “The organization emphasizes that the Islamic Republic of Iran is systematically using politically motivated charges to silence dissent and dismantle fundamental freedoms.”
The group called on international human rights bodies to pressure Iran to “halt these violations”. It urged the country “to ensure independent monitoring of the legal status, treatment, and safety of all detainees.”
The report comes after the U.S. bombed three of Iran’s nuclear facilities, which reportedly sustained significant damage. A week earlier, Israel killed at least 14 Iranian nuclear scientists and multiple military leaders in its attack on Tehran’s nuclear facilities and other targets.
The conflict initially experienced a breakthrough in peace Monday evening, with President Donald Trump announcing the start of a “complete and total” ceasefire that ends the “12 Day War” between Israel and Iran. Both nations, however, violated the ceasefire with overnight missile strikes.
HOW TO AVOID A FOREVER WAR WITH IRAN
Despite the violations, Trump said Tuesday morning that the ceasefire remained “in effect” and chastised both countries for violating the new ceasefire. The president noted he’s particularly unhappy with Israel.
“I didn’t like the fact that Israel unloaded right after we made the deal… They didn’t have to unload,” he told reporters at the White House before departing for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in The Hague. “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing.”