With over 700 arrests, Iran regime turns inward to thwart Israeli infiltration
Following its intelligence failures during the 12-day war with Israel, Iran is launching a sweeping internal clampdown with mass arrests and accelerated executions, in what critics have likened to a "wounded snake" lashing out in revenge.
TEHRAN — The Islamic Republic's war with Israel may be paused, but its war against Iranian citizens under the banner of "national security" appears to be just beginning.
What happened: In the wake of its bruising 12-day conflict with Israel, the Iranian regime has begun an expansive and aggressive internal crackdown, detaining hundreds of people on charges ranging from espionage to spreading pro-Israel propaganda.
This week, the country's security apparatus confirmed the arrest of over 700 people across the country, as the Islamic Republic struggles to contain public backlash over what many see as its defeat in preventing a yearslong Israeli infiltration campaign. The espionage project is believed to have enabled Israel's gains in the recent war, particularly through targeted, high-profile assassinations.
According to official data, at least 39 senior commanders and 14 nuclear scientists were killed during the war — a campaign of precision killings that exposed gaping holes in Iran's intelligence structure.
