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France 24
27-06-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Iran arrests 700 'Israeli agents', but where are the weapons?
The reports show men in prison jumpsuits confessing that they were recruited as Israeli spies, along with weapons they were supposedly planning to use. Analysts say the confessions are probably coerced, and an analysis of the images by the FRANCE 24 Observers team found no evidence of any Israeli-made weapons among the supposed seizures. For its part, Iran is attempting to present itself as successfully arresting Israeli operatives and confiscating their weapons. The so-called "seized weapons' and arrested 'Mossad agents' appear to be staged, as there is no credible evidence to substantiate these claims. The 12-day war between Iran and Israel was, among other things, a devastating blow to Iranian intelligence. The Israeli military had precise intelligence on high-ranking generals, allowing them to successfully target and killing of at least 29 of them. And Israel's intelligence agency, the Mossad, apparently succeeded in recruiting large numbers of Iranians to serve as agents on the ground in the deployment of guided missiles and FPVs. In the days after the initial Israeli attack on June 13, the Iranian authorities showed numerous images of abandoned vehicles and equipment left behind after their use in Israel's attack. They also showed images of spent munitions, including the casings of Israeli-made short-range Spike missiles, along with cars used to transport these missiles and suicide drones deep into Iran, as well as Israeli makeshift drone factories within the country – all of which reveals that Israeli intelligence had successfully recruited and infiltrated Iran on a large scale. The Iranian intelligence services have not, however, shown any conclusive evidence to date of weapons they seized intact, before their deployment by supposed agents inside Iran. The regime in Tehran claims to have arrested 700 Israeli operatives in 12 days, many of whom could potentially face execution. The arrested suspects are accused of planning to use attack drones, building bombs, spying on military sites, and transmitting information to Israel, according to Iranian media. State media also reported that at least six men accused of spying for Israel in the past had been executed since the Israeli attack on June 13. On June 25, Iran executed three Kurdish men—Edris Ali, Azad Shojaei, and Rasoul Ahmad Mohammad—who had been sentenced to death in 2023 on charges of smuggling assassination tools into the country for Israel. Iran's judiciary reported that three other men – Madjid Mossayebi, Esmaeil Fekri, and Mohammad Amin Shayesteh – had also been executed since June 13. State-affiliated media in Iran have published reports interviewing purported Israeli agents and showcasing 'seized' weapons. However, in two instances where state media have presented images of these confiscated weapons, the photographs appear to be either fake or staged. The first case occurred on June 24, 2025, when the Iranian ministry of intelligence claimed to have seized 402 drones in two cities in southern Iran's Hormozgan province. State media reporting on the seizure broadcast a photograph showing five attack drones with blue batteries. However, the photo is unrelated to Iran. It was taken in Ukraine in May by an Associated Press photographer, and shows attack drones made by the Ukrainian army for use against their Russian enemies. A TV report on the supposed Hormozgan seizure by state broadcaster IRIB used different images. The report showed stacks of commercially available consumer drones in their original packaging, including models that are too small to carry munitions. In a second report, on June 24, state media broadcast images of six men in prison uniforms with their backs to the camera being questioned by a security officer. The men say they had been contacted by Mossad via social media and began cooperating with them. The report also showed a row of various weapons displayed on a table, supposedly seized from the alleged Israeli agents. But nearly all the displayed weapons are manufactured in Iran. The video showed an Iranian-made man-portable air-defence system, the 'Misagh-3'. It also showed an Iranian-made drone, the 'Shahin-1,' recently added to the Iranian military's arsenal. The video also showed two mortar shells, one of which is made in China, and the other in the former Yugoslavia — both of which are commonly found in Iran's military stock. The presence of Iranian-made weapons, coupled with the absence of any Israeli or Western-made arms, raises further suspicion that the arrest and seizure may have been staged. Afghan immigrants new enemies of the state Since the onset of the 12-day war, rumours and reports circulating on social media have suggested that Afghan nationals are cooperating with Israel as foot soldiers. These reports allege that some Afghan immigrants in Iran are engaged in spying, planting bombs, and piloting drones on behalf of the Israeli Mossad. State television has also aired reports of arrested Afghan citizens "confessing" to being Israeli assets, transferring sensitive information, and planning to plant bombs at the direction of their Israeli handlers. According to Iranian media, at least five Afghan nationals have been arrested since the start of the 12-day war. Estimates suggest that between 5 to 8 million Afghan immigrants live in Iran, the majority of whom are considered "illegal" immigrants. In this context, on June 27, Iranian media announced that police had been ordered to deport all illegal Afghan immigrants. The media also reported that renting property to these immigrants would result in the confiscation of the property. While anti-Afghan sentiment in Iran has long been prevalent — especially since the most recent wave of immigration beginning in 2021 — this sentiment has surged dramatically since the 12-day war. Historically, Afghan immigrants in Iran have been targets of attacks over crimes such as theft, rape, and drug-related offenses. However, this marks the first time they have faced accusations of espionage and collaboration with Israel.
Time Magazine
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Iran Carries Out String of Executions and Arrests
Iran has executed three men convicted of spying for Israel and detained hundreds more civilians in a widening crackdown that rights groups say reflects growing paranoia within the Islamic Republic's leadership following a deadly exchange of strikes with Israel. The executions, carried out by hanging in the northwestern city of Urmia, targeted Edris Ali, Azad Shojaei, and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul—ethnic Kurds accused of aiding the Israeli Mossad in the 2020 assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a prominent nuclear scientist. Their names had previously appeared on a list published by Iran Human Rights (IHR), an Oslo-based advocacy group, which warned that at least ten men faced imminent execution on similar charges. The timing of the executions appears intended less to inflame anti-Israel sentiment than to project strength internally, a source familiar with the matter told TIME, describing it as a signal of resolve by a government increasingly consumed with fears of infiltration. The recent crackdown has also renewed international concern over the fate of Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian doctor and academic who has spent more than seven years on death row. IHR reported this week that Djalali was moved from Tehran's Evin Prison to an undisclosed location shortly after an Israeli strike on the facility. 'There is an imminent risk that his death sentence will be carried out at any moment,' the group warned. Since the outbreak of open hostilities with Israel on June 13, Iranian authorities have arrested more than 700 people on charges related to alleged collaboration with Israel, according to rights monitors. This week's executions bring to six the number of Iranians put to death for espionage since the start of the conflict. Though Iran's government has presented these arrests and executions as evidence of a crackdown on foreign meddling, public sentiment appears to be shifting in a more complex direction. A source in Iran, speaking on condition of anonymity, told TIME that for the first time in decades, 'widespread hatred' toward Israel is growing among ordinary Iranians—fueled not by government propaganda, but by firsthand experience of violence. 'Israel was very willing to kill six Iranian civilians for their [military] target, and that's something which has really made a lot of Iranians angry,' the source said. 'Iranians feel very critical of their own government because it wasn't able to defend them… and at the same time, they're extremely resentful, verging on hatred, toward the Israeli government because of all the civilian deaths.' The Iranian government has become increasingly paranoid about intelligence leaks since its almost two-week long conflict with Israel, which began with Israeli attacks on key military and nuclear targets on June 13. The first strikes resulted in the deaths of multiple highly ranked military officials and top scientists working on Tehran's nuclear program. Israel has previously conducted covert operations and targeted strikes within Iran's borders, including the high-profile assassination of Hamas political leader Ismael Haniyeh in 2024. However, the scale and visibility of the latest campaign have been unprecedented. During nearly two weeks of conflict, Israeli missile strikes killed at least 974 Iranians—including 387 civilians and 268 military personnel—according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency. Israel reported 28 deaths from Iranian missile retaliation. Though a cease-fire is now in place, the fallout from the confrontation continues to unfold. Iranian authorities remain focused on rooting out suspected espionage networks, while the public contends with a shifting landscape of fear, anger, and mistrust—directed both at their own government and at Israel.
Memri
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Memri
East Kurdistan National Center: 'Iran Is Taking Revenge For Its Defeats By Israel By Repressing The Kurdish People'
Following the twelve-day war between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel and the announcement of a ceasefire, more than 150 individuals in the city of Kermanshah, in East Kurdistan, were arrested and imprisoned by Iranian security forces. On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, three Kurdish Kolbars (border porters, or those who carry goods across the Iran-Iraq border) – Idris Ali, Azad Shojaei, and Rasoul Ahmad Mohammad – were executed by the Iranian regime. Below is statement and urgent appeal to the international community by the East Kurdistan National Center:[1] "These Executions Appear To Be Politically Motivated Acts Of Scapegoating" "Following the 12-day war between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Israel and the announcement of a ceasefire, the Iranian regime – having suffered major strategic and security failures – has turned to retaliate against the Kurdish people instead of addressing the real causes of its defeat. "On the afternoon of June 24, 2025, immediately after the ceasefire, more than 150 individuals in the city of Kermanshah were arrested and imprisoned by Iranian security forces. Subsequently, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, three Kurdish border porters (Kolbars)[2] – Idris Ali, Azad Shojaei, and Rasoul Ahmad Mohammad – were executed on charges of assisting in the transfer of equipment and weapons allegedly used in the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a top figure in Iran's nuclear program. "These allegations are baseless and contradict earlier official statements. In December 2020, Mahmoud Alavi, then Minister of Intelligence under President Hassan Rouhani, publicly admitted that Iran's security services had failed to track down the perpetrators of Fakhrizadeh's assassination. "These executions appear to be politically motivated acts of scapegoating, intended to divert attention from the regime's recent military and intelligence failures. We are gravely concerned that the Islamic Republic – emboldened by its survival after Israeli attacks – may repeat the horrors of 1988, when, following Ayatollah Khomeini's acceptance of the ceasefire in the Iran-Iraq War, thousands of political prisoners were executed in mass killings. This time, accusations of espionage and collaboration with Israel may serve as the pretext for another wave of mass executions and widespread repression, particularly targeting the Kurdish population. "Condemning The Islamic Republic's Policy Of Collective Punishment Against The Kurdish People "During the nationwide Jin, Jiyan, Azadi (Woman, Life, Freedom) uprising that followed the killing of Jina (Mahsa) Amini in 2022, over 56% of those killed and persecuted were from East Kurdistan (Iranian Kurdistan), even though Kurds constitute only about 14% of Iran's total population. This stark disparity reveals the Islamic Republic's entrenched system of apartheid and structural oppression against the people of Kurdistan – a policy that continues to this day with increasing intensity. "We urgently call upon the United Nations, international human rights organizations, and states with influence over Iran to: "-Condemn the Islamic Republic's policy of collective punishment against the Kurdish people. "-Demand the immediate release of all recently detained individuals in Kurdistan. "-Prevent the use of politically motivated executions under false charges of espionage or terrorism. "-Launch urgent and independent international investigations into the treatment of detainees and the violation of nationalities and minority rights in Iran. "-Hold the Islamic Republic of Iran accountable for any crimes against humanity or grave violations of international human rights law. "Silence in the face of this injustice will pave the way for another catastrophe. The defenseless Kurdish people must not become the victims of a regime's military and political failures. Preventing another massacre is a shared responsibility of all those who stand for human rights and dignity. "East Kurdistan National Center (NNRK) "Date: June 25, 2025"
Rhyl Journal
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Iran executes three prisoners accused of spying for Israel
The hangings happened in Urmia Prison in Iran's West Azerbaijan province, the country's most north-west province, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. IRNA said Iran's judiciary claimed the men had been accused of bringing 'assassination equipment' into the country. Iran has carried out several hangings during its war with Israel, sparking fears from activists that it could conduct a wave of executions after the conflict ended. Iran identified the three men executed as Azad Shojaei, Edris Aali and Iraqi national Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul. Amnesty International had previously raised concerns that the men could be executed. Wednesday's executions bring the total number of hangings for espionage around the war up to six since June 16. Activists fear more people will be executed, particularly after Iran's theocracy issued a deadline for people to turn themselves in over spying. People in Iran, meanwhile, began trying to return to their normal lives as a shaky ceasefire with Israel, negotiated by US President Donald Trump, appeared to be holding. State media described heavy traffic around the Caspian Sea area and other rural areas outside of the capital, Tehran, as people began returning to the city. Tehran experienced intense Israeli airstrikes throughout the war, including those that targeted Iran's top military leadership and other sites associated with its ruling theocracy.
See - Sada Elbalad
25-06-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Iran Executes Three for Spying for Israel
H-Tayea Iran has executed three men convicted of spying for Israel, just one day after the announcement of a fragile ceasefire between Tehran and Tel Aviv. The Iranian judiciary stated that the individuals—Idris Ali, Azad Shojaei, and Rasoul Ahmad Rasoul—were hanged early Wednesday morning after being found guilty of collaborating with Israel's intelligence services. According to the official statement, the men were involved in attempts to import equipment intended for carrying out assassinations inside Iran. Authorities accused them of working with what they referred to as 'the Zionist entity,' and said the executions were part of Iran's response to foreign-backed threats to its internal security. The timing of the executions has raised concerns about the stability of the newly brokered ceasefire. The truce, announced just a day earlier by U.S. President Donald Trump, has been described as tentative, with both sides expressing conditional commitment. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed that his government will respect the ceasefire as long as Israel does not violate it. In a phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Pezeshkian said, 'If the Zionist regime respects the ceasefire, Iran will not violate it either.' read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
