Latest news with #espionage
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Why Israel's spy tactics against Iran have sparked fears in Taiwan
Israel's sweeping intelligence operations against Iran have jolted Taiwan's security community, raising concerns that Beijing could adopt similar tactics to cripple the island's leadership or critical infrastructure. As assassinations and sabotage rattle Tehran, analysts in Taipei warn that Beijing's infiltration of Taiwan is no longer a purely political threat, and it might be laying the groundwork for high-stakes covert warfare. In recent months, Taiwan has seen a surge in espionage cases implicating not only retired and active-duty military personnel, but also aides to senior government officials and lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The breadth and depth of these cases have sparked concerns that Beijing's intelligence network has already penetrated the island's political and defence systems. 'What Israel has done to Iran – through a combination of precision, infiltration, and intelligence dominance – is something Beijing could try to replicate,' said Max Lo, executive director of the Taiwan International Strategic Study Society. 'The difference is, this time Taiwan may be the one under the microscope.' According to experts, Taiwan's vulnerabilities lie not only in its geographic proximity to mainland China but also in decades of cross-strait social and cultural exchange, which have enabled mainland Chinese intelligence operatives to blend in and recruit more easily.
New York Times
6 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
After Israeli Attacks, Iran Hunts Enemies From Within
Ever since Israel's attack, the Iranian authorities have asked citizens to alert them to anyone carrying bags, wearing sunglasses at night or even donning hats — an uncommon accessory in Iran. They have urged the public to report stolen license plates, pickup trucks with covered beds, or vans traveling at odd hours. All of these, they warn, could be the telltale signs of enemies operating from within. Reeling from the scope and scale of the Israeli strikes this month, Iran is conducting an intensive manhunt for suspected infiltrators and spies, and enlisting the public in the campaign. As authorities have swept up hundreds of people, the government has sped up trials and executions of alleged spies, and fast-tracked a law to broaden the use of the death penalty for anyone convicted of espionage. Given the scale of the arrest campaign even after this past week's cease-fire, some in Iran fear this could become another crackdown on political opponents by a government with a long history of repressing dissent. 'Like a wounded animal, the Islamic Republic is going after every perceived threat in the country with deadly force,' Hadi Ghaemi, the director for the Center for Human Rights in Iran, said in a statement on Thursday. Iranian officials are not simply paranoid. Israel has a history of successfully infiltrating Iran to gather intelligence and carry out assassinations and sabotage. Officials on both sides say that in the recent war, Israel flaunted its ability to build networks and launch widespread attacks from within Iran. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Al Bawaba
a day ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Hundreds jailed, six executed: Iran's ruthless post-war sweep
ALBAWABA - Tehran has launched a wide-reaching internal security operation in the wake of its recent conflict with Israel, marked by the execution of multiple individuals and the detention of hundreds more accused of espionage. Authorities claim the campaign is aimed at dismantling foreign intelligence networks believed to be operating within the country. Government sources allege that information leaked to Israel during the conflict contributed to a string of high-profile assassinations, including the killing of senior Revolutionary Guard officials and nuclear scientists. Iranian intelligence services blame these incidents on what they describe as an unprecedented security breach involving foreign operatives. In less than two weeks, six people have been executed for allegedly spying for Israel, while over 700 others have been detained across Iran. State television has aired confessions said to be from detainees, though human rights groups argue such confessions are often coerced under duress and followed by unfair trials. Iran's intelligence ministry has framed the ongoing efforts as a defensive measure against Western spy networks, accusing agencies such as Mossad, the CIA, and MI6 of coordinating subversive activities inside the country. The security operation has also extended to Iranian journalists working for international Persian-language media outlets. Families of some journalists have reportedly been detained or threatened as a means of silencing critical reporting. In parallel, access to the internet has been severely restricted, and popular global platforms remain blocked. The government has also escalated pressure on social media users, warning them of prosecution if found engaging with pro-Israel content. Beyond the alleged espionage cases, dozens of artists, writers, and civil society activists have been arrested in recent weeks, many without formal charges. Observers view these actions as a pretext to suppress dissent and prevent renewed protest movements. The current wave of repression has drawn comparisons to political purges from Iran's past, particularly the 1988 mass executions of political prisoners. Analysts warn that, amid strained international relations and domestic instability, Iranian authorities may be reverting to authoritarian tactics to reassert control and silence opposition.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran carries out wave of arrests and executions in wake of Israel conflict
Iranian authorities have carried out a wave of arrests and multiple executions of people suspected of links to Israeli intelligence agencies, in the wake of the recent war between the two countries. It comes after what officials describe as an unprecedented infiltration of Iranian security services by Israeli agents. Authorities suspect information fed to Israel played a part in a series of high-profile assassinations during the conflict. This included the targeted killings of senior commanders from the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and nuclear scientists, which Iran attributes to operatives of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency working inside the country. Shaken by the scale and precision of these killings, authorities have been targeting anyone suspected of working with foreign intelligence, saying it is for the sake of national security. But many fear this is also a way to silence dissent and tighten control over the population. During the 12-day conflict, Iranian authorities executed three people accused of spying for Israel. On Wednesday - just one day after the ceasefire - three more individuals were executed on similar charges. Officials have since announced the arrest of hundreds of suspects across the country on accusations of espionage. State television has aired alleged confessions from several detainees, purportedly admitting to collaboration with Israeli intelligence. Human rights groups and activists have expressed fears over the latest developments, citing Iran's longstanding practice of extracting forced confessions and conducting unfair trials. There are concerns that more executions may follow. Iran's Ministry of Intelligence claims it is engaged in a "relentless battle" against what it calls Western and Israeli intelligence networks - including the CIA, Mossad, and MI6. According to Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, since the beginning of Israel's attack on Iran on 13 June, "the Israeli spy network has become highly active inside the country". Fars reported that over the course of 12 days, Iranian intelligence and security forces arrested "more than 700 individuals linked to this network". Iranians have told BBC Persian they received warning text messages from Iran's intelligence ministry informing them their phone numbers had appeared on social media pages related to Israel. They were instructed to leave these pages or face prosecution. The Iranian government has also stepped up pressure on journalists working for Persian-language media outlets abroad, including BBC Persian and the London-based Iran International and Manoto TV. According to Iran International, the IRGC detained the mother, father, and brother of one of its TV presenters in Tehran to pressure her into resigning over the channel's coverage of the Iran-Israel conflict. The presenter received a phone call from her father - prompted by security agents - urging her to quit and warning of further consequences. When Iran's supreme leader emerges from hiding he will find a very different nation 'We are exhausted' - how Iranians are feeling after fragile ceasefire After the conflict began, threats directed at BBC Persian journalists and their families have become increasingly severe. According to the journalists recently affected, Iranian security officials contacting their families have claimed that, in a wartime context, they are justified in targeting family members as hostages. They have also labelled the journalists as "mohareb" — a term meaning 'one who wages war against God' — a charge that, under Iranian law, can carry the death penalty. Manoto TV has reported similar incidents, including threats against employees' families and demands to cut all ties with the outlet. Some relatives were reportedly threatened with charges such as "enmity against God" and espionage - both capital offences under Iranian law. Analysts view these tactics as part of a broader strategy to silence dissent and intimidate exiled media workers. Security forces have also detained dozens of activists, writers and artists, in many cases without formal charges. There are also reports of arrests targeting family members of those killed during the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" anti-government protests. These actions suggest a broader campaign aimed not only at current activists but also at those connected to previous waves of dissent. During the war, the Iranian government severely restricted access to the internet, and even after the ceasefire, full access has not yet been restored. Limiting internet access during crises, especially during nationwide protests against the government, has become a common pattern by Iran. Additionally, most of the social networks like Instagram, Telegram, X and YouTube, as well as news websites such as BBC Persian, have long been blocked in Iran and cannot be accessed without using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) proxy service. Human rights advocates and political observers have drawn parallels to the 1980s, when the Iranian authorities brutally suppressed political opposition during the Iran-Iraq War. Many fear that, in the wake of its weakened international standing after the conflict with Israel, the Iranian authorities may again turn inward, resorting to mass arrests, executions, and heavy-handed repression. Critics point to events of 1988, when, according to human rights groups, thousands of political prisoners - many already serving sentences - were executed following brief, secretive trials by so-called "death commissions." Most victims were buried in unmarked mass graves.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Iran carries out wave of arrests and executions in wake of Israel conflict
Iranian authorities have carried out a wave of arrests and multiple executions of people suspected of links to Israeli intelligence agencies, in the wake of the recent war between the two comes after what officials describe as an unprecedented infiltration of Iranian security services by Israeli suspect information fed to Israel played a part in a series of high-profile assassinations during the conflict. This included the targeted killings of senior commanders from the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and nuclear scientists, which Iran attributes to operatives of Israel's Mossad intelligence agency working inside the by the scale and precision of these killings, authorities have been targeting anyone suspected of working with foreign intelligence, saying it is for the sake of national many fear this is also a way to silence dissent and tighten control over the the 12-day conflict, Iranian authorities executed three people accused of spying for Israel. On Wednesday - just one day after the ceasefire - three more individuals were executed on similar have since announced the arrest of hundreds of suspects across the country on accusations of espionage. State television has aired alleged confessions from several detainees, purportedly admitting to collaboration with Israeli rights groups and activists have expressed fears over the latest developments, citing Iran's longstanding practice of extracting forced confessions and conducting unfair trials. There are concerns that more executions may Ministry of Intelligence claims it is engaged in a "relentless battle" against what it calls Western and Israeli intelligence networks - including the CIA, Mossad, and to Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, since the beginning of Israel's attack on Iran on 13 June, "the Israeli spy network has become highly active inside the country". Fars reported that over the course of 12 days, Iranian intelligence and security forces arrested "more than 700 individuals linked to this network".Iranians have told BBC Persian they received warning text messages from Iran's intelligence ministry informing them their phone numbers had appeared on social media pages related to Israel. They were instructed to leave these pages or face Iranian government has also stepped up pressure on journalists working for Persian-language media outlets abroad, including BBC Persian and the London-based Iran International and Manoto to Iran International, the IRGC detained the mother, father, and brother of one of its TV presenters in Tehran to pressure her into resigning over the channel's coverage of the Iran-Israel conflict. The presenter received a phone call from her father - prompted by security agents - urging her to quit and warning of further consequences. After the conflict began, threats directed at BBC Persian journalists and their families have become increasingly severe. According to the journalists recently affected, Iranian security officials contacting their families have claimed that, in a wartime context, they are justified in targeting family members as hostages. They have also labelled the journalists as "mohareb" — a term meaning 'one who wages war against God' — a charge that, under Iranian law, can carry the death TV has reported similar incidents, including threats against employees' families and demands to cut all ties with the outlet. Some relatives were reportedly threatened with charges such as "enmity against God" and espionage - both capital offences under Iranian view these tactics as part of a broader strategy to silence dissent and intimidate exiled media forces have also detained dozens of activists, writers and artists, in many cases without formal charges. There are also reports of arrests targeting family members of those killed during the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" anti-government actions suggest a broader campaign aimed not only at current activists but also at those connected to previous waves of the war, the Iranian government severely restricted access to the internet, and even after the ceasefire, full access has not yet been restored. Limiting internet access during crises, especially during nationwide protests against the government, has become a common pattern by Iran. Additionally, most of the social networks like Instagram, Telegram, X and YouTube, as well as news websites such as BBC Persian, have long been blocked in Iran and cannot be accessed without using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) proxy rights advocates and political observers have drawn parallels to the 1980s, when the Iranian authorities brutally suppressed political opposition during the Iran-Iraq fear that, in the wake of its weakened international standing after the conflict with Israel, the Iranian authorities may again turn inward, resorting to mass arrests, executions, and heavy-handed point to events of 1988, when, according to human rights groups, thousands of political prisoners - many already serving sentences - were executed following brief, secretive trials by so-called "death commissions." Most victims were buried in unmarked mass graves.
