Iranian authorities have launched a sweeping new wave of arrests across the country as war with Israel and the United States intensifies, detaining thousands on accusations ranging from espionage to sharing images of airstrikes. Officials say the crackdown targets spies and collaborators. Human rights activists say it is a wartime purge aimed at silencing dissent and choking off information from inside the country. Security Forces Cast a Wide Net The campaign escalated after hostilities began on 28 February. Police chief Ahmadreza Radan said 500 people had been arrested for allegedly passing information to foreign media or hostile governments. He claimed detainees had helped identify military targets and maintain contact with opposition groups. Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence separately announced the arrest of 39 more individuals accused of filming the aftermath of airstrikes and sending footage to Persian-language broadcasters abroad. War Conditions Fuel the Clampdown Authorities insist the arrests are necessary during wartime. But critics argue the measures mirror previous crackdowns following mass protests earlier this year. Activists say the government is using the conflict — and widespread internet restrictions — to tighten control over information and suppress any sign of opposition. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported additional arrests in Lorestan province, accusing detainees of “disturbing public opinion” by circulating images to foreign media. Students, Teachers and Teenagers Among the Detained Those caught in the sweep include students, teachers and teenagers. Among them is drama student Dasta Farrokhi from Soureh University of Art and archaeology student Ali Ebrahimi from University of Tehran, who was reportedly wounded during his arrest. A teacher, Vahid Ghasemi, was detained at his school before being transferred to Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad. Several teenagers have also been taken from their homes, including 17-year-olds in Isfahan and Marivan. Families Left in the Dark Many relatives say they have received little information about where detainees are being held. One case highlighted by activists involves a man reportedly denied bail after authorities cited a tattoo bearing the name of Nika Shakarami, a teenage protester whose death during earlier demonstrations became a symbol of resistance. In other cases, family members have themselves been detained after trying to inquire about missing relatives. Executions Loom as Pressure Mounts The legal stakes are severe. Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei has called for “severe measures” against those accused of undermining national security. Some detainees now face charges such as “enmity against God” — offences that can carry the death penalty. For many Iranians caught in the crackdown, the war abroad is rapidly becoming a fight for survival at home. New wave of arrests in Iran crackdown during US-Israel war
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