Iran Detains 500 Alleged Spies, Reveals Sources of US-Israeli Attack Intelligence
Iran’s security authorities have announced the detention of at least 500 individuals accused of working as spies for foreign powers and antiprovincial media networks. The mass arrests have been conducted as Teheran strengthens internal security following a major aerial assault that struck the country.
Ahmad Reza Radan, head of Iran’s security apparatus, confirmed that the suspects are believed to have transmitted sensitive information to enemies and media deemed hostile to Iran’s national interests.
In a statement cited by the Fars news agency on Sunday (15 March 2026), Radan detailed that 250 of those detained had direct involvement in providing intelligence regarding targets of aerial strikes in Iranian territory.
“They have connections with certain groups and have attempted to disrupt public order,” Radan said. The detainees are suspected of having supplied coordinate data that enabled the opposing military alliance to conduct precision strikes.
This intelligence purge operation is a direct response to the combined military operation launched by the United States and Israel on 28 February 2026. The military operation had a profoundly significant impact on Iran’s leadership structure.
The strikes on 28 February resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Additionally, the US bombardment destroyed civil infrastructure, including a girls’ school in southern Iran.
To date, the Iranian government estimates that the total death toll from the series of attacks has exceeded 1,300 people. This has triggered waves of national outrage and retaliatory military operations against US and Israeli assets throughout the Middle East.
In retaliation, Iran has launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israeli territory and American military bases at various strategic locations across the Middle East. The detention of “500 spies” is viewed as Teheran’s effort to sever enemy information networks within the country to prevent more devastating follow-up attacks.
The situation in the region remains on high alert, with strict monitoring of information flow and communications to maintain national stability following the loss of their highest-ranking leadership figure.