1,895 Iranians face active espionage charges as security crackdown intensifies

Judiciary spokesman Ali Kazemi announced in early October that at least 1,895 individuals are currently under active investigation for cooperating with hostile states. These cases include 94 media workers accused of espionage or collaboration with Israel. The figures represent a substantial increase in national security prosecutions following the conclusion of the 12-day war in June 2025 and the subsequent conflicts in 2026.

The Iranian government has accelerated its legal actions against perceived threats since the most recent war. Authorities have conducted mass arrests, expedited trials, and imposed long prison terms. Police officials reported that at least 21,000 people were detained in the aftermath of the June 2025 conflict. A further 50,000 individuals were detained in connection with the protests that erupted in January 2026. Executions have also risen, with the United Nations reporting 19 hangings in espionage cases between June and December 2025. Iran Human Rights recorded 16 executions of espionage defendants from January to September 2026.

Analysts suggest that the crackdown is driven by a mix of genuine counterintelligence concerns and a strategic effort to suppress dissent. Saeid Golkar, an associate professor of political science at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, noted that the killing of senior figures, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on February 28, demonstrated real vulnerabilities. He stated that the government has historically used security threats to justify repression. The current measures, he said, reflect legitimate worries alongside a broader effort to intimidate the public.

Recent comments from Israeli leadership have intensified Iranian suspicions. David Barnea, the former Mossad director who served until June 2026, spoke at a conference in Israel on October 22. He revealed that he approved the entry of dozens of agents with intelligence or sabotage missions in the weeks before the June 2025 war. Barnea said, "I can't say that they are here with us. But they are there in Tehran, living their lives." He claimed that Israeli intelligence released footage of agents bearing a Mossad logo to prompt local authorities to arrest thousands, protecting the agency's true assets.

Legal standards for communication have become stricter in Iran. Sending images or information to networks deemed hostile, such as BBC Persian, now carries a potential sentence of 10 to 15 years in prison. When combined with other offenses, these actions can lead to charges of "corruption on Earth," which may result in the death penalty. Authorities have designated Starlink terminals as a "tool of war" and have attempted to jam or confiscate devices smuggled into the country. The government imposed a near-total internet shutdown on 90 million people for 88 days at the start of the current war.

Human rights organizations have documented the impact of these measures on various groups. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have reported coerced confessions and the denial of effective legal defense. The targets of national security charges extend beyond alleged spies to include protesters, journalists, lawyers, and minority groups. Negar Mortazavi, a senior fellow at the Center for International Policy, emphasized the distinction between espionage and dissent. She argued that criticizing the government or reporting on its failures does not constitute espionage, yet authorities have increasingly blurred the line between the two.

Golkar offered a similar assessment of the regime's direction. He described the Islamic Republic as a security-dominated state that treats nonviolent dissent as a threat to its survival. He argued that counterespionage has become a tool to protect the ruling establishment and expand the power of security institutions. The combination of high-profile arrests and strict communication rules illustrates the tightening grip on civil society. The judiciary's focus on these 1,895 cases signals a sustained effort to consolidate control in the post-war environment.