Iran Regime’s Escalating Crackdown: Espionage Law, Mass Arrests, and the Threat of Executions

In the aftermath of Israel’s June 13 attacks on Iranian regime military and nuclear facilities, the regime has responded with a sweeping crackdown inside its borders. More than 500 individuals have been arrested on charges of collaboration with Israel, alongside 300 others accused of online activities deemed subversive. At least six people have been executed in connection with alleged ties to Israel, raising grave concerns about a renewed wave of politically motivated executions.

This intensifying repression was further underscored by the Iranian regime parliament’s rapid approval of a bill aimed at increasing penalties for espionage and collaboration with “hostile governments.” The bill—formally titled “Intensifying Punishment for Those Collaborating with Hostile Foreign Governments”—passed within a week of the outbreak of the conflict with Israel, signaling the regime’s determination to codify and accelerate punitive measures against dissent.

Though the bill still requires approval from the Guardian Council to become law, statements by hardline lawmakers reveal its intended scope. The proposed legislation significantly broadens the definition of national security violations, criminalizing even nonviolent actions such as sharing images or videos with foreign media. These acts are to be treated as grave offenses punishable under Article 286 of Iran’s Islamic Penal Code—a provision that permits the death penalty for charges categorized as “corruption on earth.”

Broadening the Definition of “Espionage”

Ebrahim Azizi, a former IRGC commander and current head of the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, elaborated on the bill’s implications:

Any cooperation in media and propaganda activities, including sending films or images to hostile or foreign networks that weaken public morale or create division, is a violation of national security and will lead to severe legal action.

This statement illustrates how the regime is blurring the line between journalism, activism, and espionage. The bill’s vague language allows the authorities to criminalize a wide array of peaceful citizen behavior, including interactions with international media, civil society groups, or social media accounts critical of the regime.

In parallel, the Judiciary’s Social and Crime Prevention Department has begun sending threatening text messages to citizens, warning that following or joining “pages affiliated with the Zionist regime” constitutes criminal behavior and will be prosecuted.

Alireza Salimi, spokesperson for the parliament’s presidium, went further, describing any action in favor of Israel, the United States, or their allies as a capital offense:

“Any activity that is a practical measure in favor of the Zionist regime or hostile governments… is an example of corruption on earth and subject to the punishment stipulated in Article 286.”

He added that even the possession or transfer of certain weapons—ranging from conventional firearms to unconventional and chemical weapons—would now be punishable by death, regardless of intent or use.

Amnesty International Condemns the Escalation

On June 20, Amnesty International issued a strongly worded statement calling on Iranian regime authorities to immediately halt all planned executions and protect detainees from torture and other abuses. The organization emphasized that the recent arrests and executions are being carried out without due process and amount to a gross violation of human rights.

“Official calls for expedited trials and executions of those arrested for alleged collaboration with Israel show how the Iranian authorities weaponize the death penalty to assert control and instill fear among the people of Iran,” said Hussein Baoumi, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty.

Amnesty reported that at least one execution had already taken place by June 16, just days after the arrests began, and that at least eight individuals previously sentenced to death under espionage charges remain at serious risk of execution.

Baoumi further emphasized:

“The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and it should not be used under any circumstances. Its use for espionage or other related offenses that do not involve intentional killing is particularly prohibited under international law.”

Amnesty’s statement condemned what it described as “torture-tainted confessions” and “grossly unfair trials,” warning that any rush to execute individuals under these conditions would be “a horrifying abuse of power and a blatant assault on the right to life.”

A Climate of Fear and Repression

This legislative and judicial escalation comes amid a broader context of political fearmongering and authoritarian consolidation. By equating dissent with treason and civilian information-sharing with espionage, the Iranian regime is tightening its grip on society, effectively criminalizing independent thought and digital expression.

The swift approval of this bill in the aftermath of external military conflict suggests a calculated move to use war-time conditions as justification for permanent domestic repression. As tensions in the region remain high, the people of Iran now face not only the threat of external conflict but an increasingly brutal campaign of internal suppression, with executions once again being wielded as a tool of terror.

Without international pressure and urgent intervention, the coming weeks may witness further escalations—including more death sentences carried out under the guise of national security.

Source: irannewsupdate.com, Staff, June 26, 2025

"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,
but by the punishments that the good have inflicted."

— Oscar Wilde