Iran arrests 26 for alleged collaboration with Israel
26 Jun 2025 10:47am
A residential building that was hit in an Israeli strike covered with a big Iranian flag, in Tehran on June 25, 2025. Photo by Atta Kenare/AFP
TEHRAN - Iran's intelligence services have arrested 26 people, accusing them of collaborating with Israel, state media Fars news agency reported, days after a ceasefire between the two countries was announced.
"These individuals were identified as operatives and deceived participants in the recent imposed war by the Zionist regime have been arrested by the Intelligence Organization of the Hazrat Vali Asr Corps," Iranian state media Fars news agency said on Wednesday.
"Most of them have confessed to their actions, including anti-security activities, spreading public anxiety and acts of sabotage," it added, citing a statement by the organisation.
The arrest came after Israel's military chief said Wednesday that its commandos had operated secretly inside Iran during the countries' 12-day war, as its spy chief also hailed assistance from US intelligence. A residential building in Tehran that was hit in an Israeli strike on June 25, 2025. Photo by Atta Kenare/AFP
"We achieved full control over Iranian airspace and in every location where we chose to operate," Israeli chief of staff Eyal Zamir had said in a televised address.
"This was made possible thanks to, among other things, coordination and tactical deception carried out by our air force and ground commando units," he added.
"The forces operated in secret deep within enemy territory and created operational freedom of action for us."
Iran said Wednesday that it executed three men accused of spying for Israel.
Tehran regularly announces the arrest and execution of agents suspected of working for foreign intelligence services, including its arch-foe Israel.
Both countries have claimed victory in the conflict since a ceasefire went into effect on Tuesday. - AFP
More Like This
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
34 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Hamas responds 'positively' to US-brokered Gaza ceasefire proposal
TEL AVIV: Hamas said it had responded on Friday in "a positive spirit" to a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire proposal and was prepared to enter into talks on implementing the deal, which envisages a release of hostages and negotiations on ending the conflict. US President Donald Trump earlier announced a "final proposal" for a 60-day ceasefire in the nearly 21-month-old war between Israel and Hamas, stating he anticipated a reply from the parties in coming hours. Hamas wrote on its official website: "The Hamas movement has completed its internal consultations as well as discussions with Palestinian factions and forces regarding the latest proposal by the mediators to halt the aggression against our people in Gaza. "The movement has delivered its response to the brotherly mediators, which was characterised by a positive spirit. Hamas is fully prepared, with all seriousness, to immediately enter a new round of negotiations on the mechanism for implementing this framework," the statement said. In a sign of potential challenges still facing the sides, a Palestinian official of a group allied with Hamas said concerns remained over humanitarian aid, passage through the Rafah crossing to Egypt and clarity over a timetable of Israeli troop withdrawals. Trump said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed "to the necessary conditions to finalie" a 60-day ceasefire, during which efforts would be made to end the US ally's war in the Palestinian enclave. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is due to meet Trump in Washington on Monday, has yet to comment on Trump's announcement, and in their public statements the two sides remain far apart. Netanyahu has repeatedly said Hamas must be disarmed, a position the group, which is thought to be holding 20 living hostages, has so far refused to discuss. Israeli media cited an Israeli official as saying that Israel had received and was looking into Hamas' response to the ceasefire proposal. An Egyptian security official told Reuters that Egypt, which along with Qatar is mediating ceasefire efforts, had seen Hamas' response and said: "It includes positive signs that an agreement is near, but there are some demands from Hamas that need to be worked on." Trump has said he would be "very firm" with Netanyahu on the need for a speedy Gaza ceasefire, while noting that the Israeli leader wants one as well. "We hope it's going to happen. And we're looking forward to it happening sometime next week," he told reporters earlier this week. "We want to get the hostages out." ATTACKS OVERNIGHT Israeli attacks have killed at least 138 Palestinians in Gaza over the past 24 hours, local health officials said. Health officials at the Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, said the Israeli military had carried out an airstrike on a tent encampment west of the city around 2am, killing 15 Palestinians displaced by nearly two years of war. The Israeli military said troops operating in the Khan Younis area had eliminated fighters, confiscated weapons and dismantled Hamas outposts in the last 24 hours, while striking 100 targets across Gaza, including military structures, weapons storage facilities and launchers. Later on Friday, Palestinians gathered to perform funeral prayers before burying those killed overnight. "There should have been a ceasefire long ago before I lost my brother," said 13-year-old Mayar Al Farr as she wept. Her brother, Mahmoud, was shot dead in another incident, she said. "He went to get aid, so he can get a bag of flour for us to eat. He got a bullet in his neck," she said. 'MAKE THE DEAL' In Tel Aviv, families and friends of hostages held in Gaza were among demonstrators who gathered outside a US Embassy building on US Independence Day, calling on Trump to secure a deal for all of the captives. Demonstrators set up a symbolic Sabbath dinner table, placing 50 empty chairs to represent those who are still held in Gaza. Banners hung nearby displaying a post by Trump from his Truth Social platform that read, "MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!" "Only you can make the deal. We want one beautiful deal. One beautiful hostage deal," said Gideon Rosenberg, 48, from Tel Aviv. Rosenberg was wearing a shirt with the image of hostage Avinatan Or, one of his employees who was abducted by Palestinian fighters from the Nova musical festival on Oct 7, 2023. He is among the 20 hostages who are believed to be alive after more than 600 days of captivity. An official familiar with the negotiations said on Thursday that the proposal envisages the return of 10 of the hostages during the 60 days, along with the bodies of 18 others who had died since being taken hostage. Ruby Chen, 55, the father of 19-year-old American-Israeli Itay, who is believed to have been killed after being taken captive, urged Netanyahu to return from meeting with Trump with a deal that brings back all hostages. Itay Chen, also a German national, was serving as an Israeli soldier when Hamas carried out its surprise attack on Oct 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking another 251 hostage. Israel's retaliatory war against Hamas has devastated Gaza, which the group has ruled for almost two decades but now only controls in parts, displacing most of the population of more than 2 million and triggering widespread hunger. More than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in nearly two years of fighting, most of them civilians, according to local health officials.--REUTERS
New Straits Times
8 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Malaysia: Ceasefire must not be tactical manouvre, urges permanent end to Gaza genocide
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has stressed that any pause in the ongoing conflict in Gaza "must not be misused as a tactical manoeuvre", and that "unimpeded humanitarian access is urgently needed to avert mass starvation", according a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry on Friday. Malaysia, the ministry said, "appreciates the latest effort to end the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza", in particular the 60-day ceasefire proposed by the United States and mediated by Egypt and Qatar, and "calls for it to lead to a permanent ceasefire". The ministry, widely known as Wisma Putra, said Malaysia reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of the Zionist Israeli regime's atrocities in Gaza and the West Bank, including the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure and the actions of Israeli settlers. "These constitute gross violations of international law," said Wisma Putra. The statement noted that Malaysia remained firmly committed to the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and statehood, with East Jerusalem as the capital, and calls for Palestine's full membership in the United Nations.
The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
IAEA inspectors leave Iran safely after conflict, seek monitoring resumption
BERLIN: The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Friday it had pulled its last remaining inspectors from Iran as a standoff over their return to the country's nuclear facilities bombed by the United States and Israel becomes further entrenched. Israel launched the first of its military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites in a 12-day war with the Islamic Republic three weeks ago. The International Atomic Energy Agency's inspectors have not been able to inspect Iran's facilities since then. 'An IAEA team of inspectors today safely departed from Iran to return to the Agency headquarters in Vienna, after staying in Tehran throughout the recent military conflict,' the IAEA said on X. Diplomats said the number of IAEA inspectors in Iran was reduced to a handful after the start of the war. Some have also expressed concern about the inspectors' safety since the end of the conflict, given fierce criticism of the agency by Iranian officials and Iranian media. Iran has accused the agency of effectively paving the way for the bombings by issuing a damning report on May 31 that led to a resolution by the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors declaring Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has said he stands by the report. He denied it provided diplomatic cover for military action. Iran's parliament has now passed a law suspending cooperation with the IAEA until steps such as ensuring the safety of its nuclear sites are taken. Iran says it is not currently safe for inspectors to return there. '(Grossi) reiterated the crucial importance of the IAEA discussing with Iran modalities for resuming its indispensable monitoring and verification activities in Iran as soon as possible,' the IAEA said. The IAEA has said for days that Iran has not yet officially notified it of any decision to suspend cooperation.
