Iranian authorities have arrested around 500 people on allegations of espionage and collaboration with foreign media, according to the country’s police chief.
Brigadier General Ahmadreza Radan said the arrests were made for secretly transmitting intelligence to Iran International and to Israel. The police chief disclosed the information to the semi-official Iranian news agency Tasnim News Agency.
Radan stated that at least 250 of the detainees were accused specifically of providing sensitive information to Iran International. He added that several members of underground militant gangs were also among those arrested. According to Iranian authorities, these groups were allegedly involved in spreading unrest, inciting violence and attacking members of law enforcement.
Tehran has long accused the London-based broadcaster of spreading misinformation and propaganda against the government of the Iran. In 2022, Iranian authorities officially designated Iran International as a “terrorist organization,” claiming the channel encourages public agitation against the Islamic Republic.
The arrests come amid heightened tensions following stalled diplomatic talks between Tehran and United States over Iran’s nuclear program. Negotiations held in Tehran and Washington from February 6 to February 27 ended without any agreement.
Shortly afterward, the U.S. military launched an operation named “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran on February 28. At the same time, Israel began a parallel military campaign called “Operation Roaring Lion.”
In response, Iran has reportedly launched multiple waves of drone and missile strikes targeting U.S. military bases in several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Oman.
According to Iranian reports, more than 1,300 people have been killed in the country since the start of the U.S.-Israeli military strikes.
