TEHRAN: Iranian authorities reported on Saturday that 22 individuals have been arrested in Qom province for alleged connections to Israeli intelligence services. This information was shared by the Fars news agency.
According to the head of police intelligence in Qom, these arrests occurred after the identification of individuals involved with what was described as the "Zionist regime’s" spy operations. The police accused them of creating unrest among the public and supporting activities against Iran.
Just days earlier, on Thursday, authorities announced the arrest of 24 other individuals suspected of espionage for Israel, with allegations of attempting to damage Iran’s reputation, as stated by the Tasnim news agency.
Additionally, Tasnim revealed on Friday that a European citizen was also detained for espionage, although details about their nationality and the timing of the arrest were not disclosed. Iran frequently reports the capture of suspected spies, with some facing severe penalties in recent weeks.
A human rights organization based in Norway, Iran Human Rights, has indicated that at least 223 people across the country have been detained on charges related to cooperation with Israel, suggesting that the actual number may be even higher.
