Iran-Israel war: 700 Iranians may face imminent execution within days for this alleged grave mistake

A wave of fear is sweeping across Iran, not from foreign airstrikes, but from what could become a massive and swift campaign of executions of Iranians, which started following the Iran-Israel ceasefire, as per reports.

700+ Arrested in Iran in Just 12 Days

Iranian authorities have arrested over 700 people in just 12 days, accusing them of working with Israeli intelligence, reported Iranwire, citing a state-linked Fars News Agency. The arrests span several provinces, including Kermanshah, Isfahan, Khuzestan, Fars, and Lorestan, according to the report. The Islamic Republic has increased its security crackdown after a US-brokered ceasefire with Israel, as per an IranWire report. Spying in Iran is punishable by death.

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Accusations Include Drone Attacks and Spying for Israel

Officials say the individuals are suspected of carrying out serious acts of espionage, including directing suicide drones, building explosives, photographing sensitive military sites, and passing information to Israel, as per the Iranwire report. Iranian authorities have also revealed that they have confiscated over 10,000 "micro-drones" in Tehran alone, as per the report.

Executions Already Underway

According to the Iranwire report, Iran has already executed six people on espionage charges in just the past two weeks, which also includes three men, who were executed on Wednesday, as they were reportedly accused of involvement in the 2020 assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

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While a Times of Israel report mentioned the names of those executed as Idris Ali, Azad Shojai and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul. The report cited Mizan news agency, writing that, "The men were arrested and tried for… cooperation favoring the Zionist regime,” referring to Israel, and added, “The sentence was carried out this morning… and they were hanged,” as quoted by Times of Israel.

According to the report, the executions happened in Urmia, a northwestern city near the border with Turkey, Mizan news agency also had shared photos of the three men in blue prison uniforms.

Judiciary Pushes for Tougher Laws

Iranwire reported that Iran's judiciary has also revealed plans to revise Iran's espionage law to provide broader authority for prosecuting individuals detained during the recent conflict. Spokesman Asghar Jahangir said that existing laws may not cover "many instances of today's events," as quoted in the report by Iranwire.

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Iran’s Long Record of Harsh Punishment

Meanwhile, the Times of Israel wrote that, "Tehran regularly announces the arrest and execution of agents suspected of working for foreign intelligence services, including Israel, a country it regularly vows to destroy."

Even human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have said that Iran is the world’s second-most prolific executioner after China, as reported by Times of Israel.

FAQs

Why were more than 700 people arrested in Iran?
Iran says they were working with Israeli intelligence and involved in spying, drone activity, and sabotage, as per reports.

Were any of the accused already executed in Iran?
Yes. Six people have been executed in two weeks, including three men hanged on Wednesday.