After Israeli Strikes, Iran Launches Internal Crackdown on Suspected Enemies

In the wake of heightened tensions and recent Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, Iran has initiated a sweeping internal crackdown, targeting individuals and groups suspected of aiding foreign adversaries or undermining national security.

According to sources within the Iranian government and regional media reports, Iranian security forces have intensified surveillance operations and detentions across major cities, including Tehran, Esfahan, and Shiraz. Intelligence operatives are reportedly focusing on dissident groups, alleged foreign agents, and individuals with links to Western or Israeli intelligence agencies.

The crackdown follows Israeli strikes earlier this month that targeted strategic Iranian nuclear sites, including facilities in Natanz and Fordow. The attacks, which reportedly resulted in the deaths of several top Iranian Revolutionary Guard officers, sparked widespread outrage in Tehran and calls for decisive retaliation.

Iranian authorities have since arrested multiple individuals accused of espionage, sabotage, or sharing classified information with foreign entities. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) released a statement claiming to have dismantled a "network of collaborators" operating on behalf of Israel's Mossad.

“These individuals were in contact with Zionist intelligence elements and were plotting acts of sabotage within Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure,” the IRGC claimed, without naming the suspects.

Analysts suggest this internal purge is part of Iran’s broader strategy to secure its power structures and prevent further breaches. However, human rights organizations have raised concerns about due process and transparency, warning that the crackdown could also be used to suppress political dissent and target critics of the regime.

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called for "national unity and vigilance" in the face of external threats, stating that "internal traitors" pose as much danger as foreign enemies. State-run media have echoed similar sentiments, urging the public to remain alert and report suspicious activities.

As regional tensions remain high, observers fear that Iran’s internal clampdown may escalate, deepening domestic unrest and triggering a broader human rights crisis, even as the international community urges restraint on all sides.