Iran Arrests 700 Alleged Israeli Operatives in 12 Days Amid Espionage Crackdown

According to Saed News,
More than 700 individuals suspected of espionage and sabotage on behalf of Israel have been arrested across Iran over the past 12 days, according to official statements from Iranian security and judicial authorities. The arrests mark one of the largest anti-intelligence operations in the country’s recent history, coinciding with heightened tensions following Israeli military strikes on Iranian sites.

The suspects, described as "operatives and mercenaries" linked to Israeli intelligence, were reportedly active in organized sabotage and surveillance networks. Iranian officials claim the detainees were identified through a combination of public tip-offs and intelligence-led operations. The scope of alleged activities ranges from piloting and coordinating drone and quadcopter attacks to the construction of improvised explosive devices and the photographing of sensitive military installations for transmission to Israeli forces.

Geographical data suggests a wide distribution of arrests, with the highest concentrations reported in Kermanshah (126), Isfahan (76), Khuzestan (62), Fars (53), and Lorestan (49). Authorities have yet to release a precise figure for arrests in Tehran Province, though unofficial reports suggest significant activity in the capital.

The reported operations have not included foreign nationals, with the figures pertaining exclusively to Iranian citizens, according to security sources. These sources also disclosed that more than 10,000 hostile micro-drones were discovered and seized in Tehran alone during recent security sweeps.

Iranian officials have framed the arrests as a critical success in the ongoing effort to neutralize external threats and safeguard national security amid mounting regional instability. The alleged infiltration by Israeli networks underscores the broader intelligence war playing out in the shadow of direct military conflict between the two adversaries.