Iran arrests over 21,000 suspects during 12-day war with Israel

Iranian police have announced that 21,000 “suspects” were arrested across the country during its 12-day war with Israel in June, according to a statement by law enforcement spokesperson Saeid Montazerolmahdi carried by state media on Tuesday.

The arrests came amid heightened tensions following Israeli air strikes that began on June 13, prompting Iranian security forces to launch a nationwide crackdown.

Authorities intensified their street presence, set up additional security checkpoints, and called on citizens to report anyone displaying “suspicious” behavior.

“There was a 41% increase in calls by the public, which led to the arrest of 21,000 suspects during the 12-day war,” Montazerolmahdi said, without clarifying the charges against most of them.

Iranian officials have previously claimed that some individuals provided intelligence that may have been used to guide Israeli strikes, suggesting the arrests were partly aimed at disrupting such activities.

The conflict also triggered an accelerated campaign of deportations targeting Afghan nationals deemed to be in Iran illegally.

According to aid agencies, some Afghan migrants were accused by local authorities of spying for Israel.

Montazerolmahdi stated that 2,774 undocumented migrants were detained during the period, with security forces opening 30 “special security” cases after examining confiscated mobile phones.

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These investigations led to the arrest of 261 suspects on espionage charges and 172 people accused of unauthorised filming.

The police spokesperson also described cyberspace as a “new battlefield” during the war, saying that Iranian law enforcement handled more than 5,700 cybercrime cases.

These ranged from online fraud and unauthorised bank withdrawals to other internet-based offenses.

Montazerolmahdi did not specify how many of those arrested during the crackdown have since been released, and no independent verification of the figures was immediately available.

The mass arrests highlight the domestic security clampdown that accompanied the Iran-Israel conflict, which Tehran’s leadership has framed as part of a broader effort by Israel to undermine the Islamic Republic’s political system.