Iran’s judiciary has launched investigations into 20 individuals arrested for suspected ties to Israel, following the recent 12-day war between the two nations.
Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangir confirmed the development on Saturday, August 9, during a press briefing in Tehran. “These cases were immediately filed under the supervision of our esteemed investigators and are currently under investigation,” Jahangir said, noting that more information will be provided as proceedings advance.
In late July, Iran’s intelligence agency announced the arrest of what it described as “20 spies, Mossad operational and support agents, and individuals connected to Israel’s intelligence services,” apprehended across Tehran and several other provinces.
The arrests follow a deadly escalation in mid-June, when Israel carried out an unprecedented bombing campaign inside Iran, targeting military and nuclear facilities as well as civilian areas. The strikes reportedly killed high-ranking military officials, nuclear scientists, and hundreds of others. Iran responded with coordinated missile and drone attacks on Israeli targets.
Vowing zero tolerance, Jahangir said the accused will face swift and decisive justice. “The judiciary will show no mercy to spies and Zionist agents. We will issue strong verdicts that will serve as a warning to all who consider betraying the nation,” he declared.
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, August 6, Iran executed Roozbeh Vadi, a former employee of the Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, after convicting him of spying for Israel. Authorities said he passed sensitive information about Iranian nuclear sites and scientists to Mossad.
Iranian state media also released a screenshot of an academic paper co-authored by Vadi and two prominent nuclear scientists, Ahmad Zolfaghar and Abdolhamid Minouchehr, both of whom were killed during the recent conflict.
