Iran has launched a sweeping internal purge to root out alleged Israeli collaborators and political dissidents, resulting in mass arrests, secret trials, and executions that have stoked nationwide terror.
At a Glance
- Over 700 individuals have been detained since mid-June in a nationwide espionage sweep.
- Security operations concentrate on Kurdish provinces, with checkpoints and home raids.
- Three Kurdish men were publicly executed in Urmia following closed-door trials.
- Revolutionary Guards and Basij militias patrol borders and urban centers on high alert.
- UN and rights groups decry the campaign as a breach of due-process and human-rights norms.
Hunt for Hidden Agents
Reuters reported that security forces arrested 724 suspects alleged to have ties to Mossad in a single week. Special IRGC units established roadblocks on key transit routes to Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan, seizing phones and laptops to search for encrypted messages and suspected foreign contacts. In the Kurdish cities of Mahabad and Sanandaj, witnesses describe overnight SWAT-style raids that left dozens of families uncertain of their loved ones’ whereabouts and denied detainees any access to legal counsel.
The IRGC’s state broadcaster aired a statement claiming the operation “neutralized enemy agents who threatened national security,” but offered no public evidence. Detainees are reportedly held in undisclosed facilities under harsh conditions, prompting concerns over forced confessions and torture. Human Rights Watch’s 2025 World Report on Iran warns that these methods violate Iran’s obligations under international human-rights law and mirror earlier campaigns of political repression.
Watch a report: Iran’s Internal Crackdown Unveiled
Executions and High Alert
On June 20, state media confirmed the hanging of three Kurdish detainees in Urmia Central Prison after secretive trials lasting under 48 hours. Relatives say the men—accused of passing drone coordinates to Israel—were given mere hours to prepare before execution, intended as a stark warning against “betrayal.” Meanwhile, Basij volunteers have established armed patrols in Tehran’s neighborhoods, and biometric scanners at major airports now flag travelers with any suspected foreign links, crippling cross-border trade and deepening fear.
Global Fallout and Tehran’s Grip
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned Iran’s mass detentions and urged Tehran to permit UN and IAEA inspections. The IAEA negotiations with Tehran over nuclear site access have stalled amid the human-rights crisis, linking internal repression to broader non-proliferation concerns.
The EU foreign ministers are preparing sanctions targeting IRGC commanders implicated in the purge, and the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC blacklisted three IRGC officials for “gross human-rights violations.” These measures reflect growing Western resolve to hold Tehran accountable beyond the nuclear dossier.
Economic and Regional Risks
Analysts warn that continued repression and tightened borders threaten Iran’s vital oil exports and regional trade corridors, risking further economic deterioration under existing sanctions. Human Rights Watch notes that arbitrary arrests and summary executions undermine any prospect of internal reform, while domestic unrest simmers beneath the surface.
With no sign of de-escalation, Iran’s leadership appears to favor fear over dialogue—casting a long shadow over domestic stability and regional security. As the purge deepens, the question remains whether the world’s response can curb Tehran’s draconian tactics before an emboldened IRGC cements its grip on power.
