AP, Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Iran executed three more prisoners Wednesday over allegedly spying for Israel, its state-run IRNA news agency reported, the latest hangings connected to its war with Israel.
The hangings happened in Urmia Prison in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province, which is the country’s most northwest province.
IRNA cited Iran’s judiciary for the news, saying the men had been accused of bringing “assassination equipment” into the country.
Iran has carried out several hangings during its war with Israel, sparking fears from activists that it could conduct a wave of executions after the conflict ended.
Iranian intelligence and security forces have arrested more than 700 individuals suspected of being part of Israel’s “spy network” within the country, according to reports from local media.
Iran’s Fars news agency and the state-affiliated Nournews reported that the arrests took place during Israel’s recent 12-day war with Iran. The operation, according to the reports, targeted individuals allegedly connected to Israeli intelligence activities.
The conflict, described as one of the most intense in recent years, included what Iranian sources have called an unprecedented Israeli intelligence campaign. This reportedly involved the targeted killings of high-ranking Iranian military officials and prominent nuclear scientists.
“Israel’s military assault on Iran also involved what has been described as an unprecedented Israeli intelligence operation that included the targeted killings of high-ranking military officials and prominent nuclear scientists,” the reports noted.
The arrests come amid heightened tensions between the two countries and growing concerns about regional stability. However, previous mass detentions by Iranian authorities have drawn criticism from international human rights organizations, which have raised concerns about the lack of due process.
“Previous mass arrests by the Iranian government have been criticised by human rights groups for lack of due process.”
Authorities have not released the identities of those detained, and no further details have been made public regarding charges or legal proceedings.
