In a bold move over the weekend, Iranian officials announced the apprehension of numerous individuals purportedly engaged in espionage activities for Israel. These arrests spanned multiple provinces, as reported by state media outlets.
The Fars News Agency, which is closely linked with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), disclosed on Sunday that 20 individuals were detained in Urmia, a city situated in the northwest region of West Azerbaijan. These individuals are accused of collaborating with Israel by transmitting sensitive details about military, police, and security locations.
Further intensifying the crackdown, Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence revealed on Saturday that they had captured several “enemy operatives” across the nation. This includes two distinct 10-member groups apprehended in Mazandaran and Khorasan Razavi provinces, according to information from Tasnim, a semi-official news agency.
The authorities allege that the suspects were involved in relaying the coordinates of crucial military sites, economic infrastructure, public areas, academic institutions, and research facilities to Israeli contacts.
Meanwhile, in the southern province of Khuzestan, intelligence officials reported the capture of a three-member “terrorist team.” This group is accused of orchestrating armed assaults against security personnel and government establishments.
In southern Khuzestan province, intelligence officials also reported arresting a three-person “terrorist team” accused of carrying out armed attacks against security forces and government facilities.
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Israel has relied on tips from ordinary Iranians to identify targets for strikes inside Iran, citing a senior Israeli security official.
The newspaper said information about potential targets is sent through Israeli Persian-language social media accounts and is verified by Israeli authorities before strikes are carried out.
A woman holds an Iranian flag during the funeral and burial of Ali Shamkhani at Imamzadeh Saleh in northern Tehran, Iran, on March 14, 2026. (Majid Saeedi/Getty Images)
In a separate development, Bahraini authorities said Sunday they arrested five people accused of passing sensitive information to the IRGC and helping recruit operatives for potential attacks inside the country.
According to a statement from Bahrain’s Police Media Center, the suspects allegedly collected and transmitted coordinates and images of sensitive locations, including hotels, to the IRGC.
Officials said one suspect previously received training at IRGC camps in “trafficking persons and recruiting operatives to participate in implementing terrorist plots.”
The five detainees were referred to Bahrain’s Public Prosecution, while a sixth suspect identified in the case is believed to be a fugitive abroad.
