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IRAN - Hrana Report: 195 Arrested on Espionage Allegations
March 12, 2026: March 12, 2026 - IRAN. Hrana Report: 195 Arrested on Espionage Allegations
Over 195 Citizens Arrested Across Iran Amid U.S. and Israeli Attacks; Authorities Cite Media Activity and Espionage Allegations
These arrests took place in the cities of Tehran, Eslamshahr, Tabriz, and Rezvanshahr, as well as in the provinces of Khuzestan, Kurdistan, Lorestan, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad.
Additionally, according to reports published by official media outlets, a video containing the forced confessions of several of these detainees has been released. It remains unclear under what conditions these confessions were recorded.
These individuals are facing accusations including activity on social media and sending content to foreign media outlets, spreading public anxiety, cooperation with foreign media, espionage and gathering information for foreign countries, as well as attempting to disrupt public security.
Yesterday, the country’s Chief Commander of Law Enforcement announced in a video report the arrest of 82 citizens. Ahmadreza Radan, without specifying the locations of the arrests, claimed that 81 of these individuals were detained due to activity on social media and sending materials to a foreign media outlet (Iran International). One citizen was also arrested for financial connections with foreign networks.
The IRGC’s Abolfazl Unit in Lorestan also announced that three citizens were arrested on charges of spreading public anxiety and cooperating with foreign media outlets. The statement claimed that these individuals had engaged in actions such as “spreading rumors, setting fire to mourning symbols, and sending images to media outlets.”
Tasnim News Agency reported the arrest of a citizen in Eslamshahr. Saeed Doosti-Nejad, the prosecutor of Eslamshahr, claimed that the individual was affiliated with one of the Persian-language media networks operating outside the country and had collected information for them.
In recent days, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organization announced that 10 individuals who had filmed locations struck in the attacks and sent the footage to foreign media had been arrested so far. At the same time, a video containing forced confessions from these citizens has been released.
On March 5, five citizens were arrested by security forces in Tehran. Fars News Agency, a media outlet close to security institutions, claimed that they were collecting information from certain centers and mosques to provide to the United States and Israel. However, the outlet did not mention the identities or the locations where the detainees are being held.
In another report, Fars News Agency stated that 50 citizens were arrested by intelligence agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province. The report claimed that the individuals “intended to obtain weapons to disrupt public security and were identified and arrested before taking any action.”
According to ILNA, the local police commander announced the identification and arrest of two individuals in this county. Hamed Shadbahr, providing details on the matter, stated that officers from the county’s Public Security Police had identified and arrested two individuals on charges of publishing and republishing false news and producing online content which, according to law enforcement authorities, caused public anxiety and concern within society.
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Office of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the arrest of six citizens and the killing of another by the forces of this institution in Kurdistan Province. In the statement, published by Fars News Agency, it was claimed that these individuals were “armed elements” connected to groups opposed to the political establishment and had been identified and arrested in the northwest of Kurdistan Province.
According to Tasnim News Agency, on February 28 a citizen in Tabriz was arrested for what was described as an “attempt to disrupt the mourning ceremony for the death of Ali Khamenei.” The Deputy for Social Affairs of the East Azerbaijan Law Enforcement Command claimed that the detained individual “intended to drive into the crowd of participants and disrupt the ceremony.”
According to Hamshahri, the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran also announced in a statement the arrest of several individuals in Tehran, claiming that they had been planning to carry out the directives of the United States and Israel in the capital. The statement added that weapons of war, amounts of foreign currency, and a Starlink device were discovered from them. However, the security body did not disclose the identities or the number of those arrested.
Additionally, the General Directorate of Intelligence in Khuzestan Province reported the arrest of six individuals in the province. In the statement, the security body claimed that the detainees were members of an “armed” group linked to foreign countries and that a quantity of military equipment had been discovered in their possession.
Furthermore, at least 30 citizens have been arrested in recent days by forces of the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tasnim News Agency, quoting this security institution, reported that these arrests were carried out on charges described as “espionage for the United States and Israel.”
Although countering espionage is not considered a violation of human rights, given the Iranian government’s record of instrumentally using such accusations against political opponents, such claims—particularly when details and due process remain unclear—are often viewed with skepticism. In the reports mentioned, no information has been provided regarding the identities of the detainees or the locations where they are being held.
It should be noted that the military attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran began on February 27, 2026. Since the beginning of these attacks, HRANA has been documenting and recording developments related to these conflicts across different parts of the country on a daily basis. For further information, readers may refer to HRANA’s detailed report on the twelfth day of the conflict, which was published last night.
https://www.en-hrana.org/over-195-citizens-arrested-across-iran-amid-u-s-and-israeli-attacks-authorities-cite-media-activity-and-espionage-allegations/ (Source: Hrana)
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