Iran Arrests 17 Suspects in US-Israel Sabotage Network in Ilam

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence has announced the successful security operation resulting in the arrest of 17 individuals accused of involvement in an international sabotage network. The suspects are alleged to have worked as mercenaries for the United States and Israel. According to a report from the official IRNA news agency on Tuesday (23/6/2026), the operation was conducted in the western region of Iran. The move is part of a tightening of national security by the government in Tehran to counter external threats. The Ministry of Intelligence explained that the operation’s success stemmed from intensive intelligence monitoring and proactive reports from the public. The focus of the operation was in Ilam Province, where authorities managed to identify three individuals strongly suspected of being the field leaders of the network. The suspects are accused of carrying out a series of dangerous activities that threatened national stability. These activities included the destruction of public facilities, arson, shootings, and the production of propaganda videos aimed at spreading fear among the population. In addition to the three leaders, 14 other individuals were detained for their suspected roles as active members of the sabotage cell. The identities of the suspects are currently being withheld by the authorities for the purposes of further investigation.