Iran arrests 18 people accused of working for Iran International

Iranian authorities have arrested 18 individuals accused of working for Iran International, a satellite news channel that Tehran alleges has ties to Israel, Al Jazeera reports, citing Press TV,

The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence stated that the detainees “sent the channel photographs of locations hit by US-Israeli strikes, as well as images of emergency personnel, rescuers, and humanitarian organisations,” the statement said.

At least 21 individuals have been formally charged, the report adds.

Earlier, it was reported that Iranian authorities had arrested at least 500 people accused of passing information to the country’s enemies. Human rights organisations have expressed concern over the wave of arrests amid ongoing US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

By Khagan Isayev