Two arrested in Iran on espionage allegations involving US, Israel

Iranian security forces have detained two individuals in the Ilkhchi area of East Azerbaijan province on accusations of passing sensitive information about strategic sites to the United States and Israel, according to a statement cited by the Tasnim news agency.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the suspects were identified as “enemy agents” who had maintained contact with foreign entities and transmitted information about the locations of key facilities. According to the statement, they received cryptocurrency in exchange for the data.

“Security forces in the region identified and detained two enemy agents of American-Zionist origin in Ilkhchi. These traitors, while maintaining contact with foreign structures, transmitted information about the locations of important facilities to enemy intelligence services. In exchange for providing such data, they received cryptocurrency. The detainees were handed over to judicial authorities in cooperation with security and law enforcement forces,” the statement said.

The detained individuals have been transferred to judicial authorities following coordination between security and law enforcement agencies.

Separately, judiciary spokesperson Askar Jahangir said that any activity involving the transfer of information to an adversary is treated as a capital offence under Iranian law and may also lead to confiscation of property. He added that more than 200 indictments have already been issued in cases involving the transfer of information, stressing that there is no leniency for such actions and that even photographing damaged facilities can be subject to punishment.

By Tamilla Hasanova