Crackdown: After US-brokered truce, Iran hangs 3 “Israeli spies,” arrests 700 others
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: A day after an uneasy, US-brokered ceasefire to ‘end’ their 12-day fierce conflict, Iran started cracking down on rebels—potential or real– at home as it hanged three “Israeli spies” and arrested 700 others, the media reported on Wednesday.
It executed three men, after they were convicted of collaborating with Israel’s spy agency Mossad, the judiciary’s Mizan news agency reported.
Also, as many as 700 people were arrested for ties with the Jewish nation. Those executed were accused of collaboration with Israel and smuggling assassination gear to eliminate people, the state-affiliated Nournews reported..
The three men, who were hanged, were convicted of collaborating with Israel’s Mossad and also smuggling equipment used in an assassination of an unnamed personality, Mizan reported, without sharing further details.
Embroiled in a decades-long conflict with Israel, Iran has in the past also executed several individuals convicted of having ties with the Mossad and facilitating the Israeli spy agency’s operations in the West Asian nation.
The truce came after the US joined Israel by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan on Saturday last. Tehran and Tel Aviv exchanged blame over violations of the ceasefire, which was met with US President Donald Trump’s sharp rebuke and frustration.
Trump, 79, insisted that a truce was in effect, that Israel would not attack Iran, and all of their planes were returning home.
“Israel is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly ‘plane wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the ceasefire is in effect,” he wrote on Truth Social.
The latest conflict began after Israel alleged that Iran was closer than ever to making nuclear weapons. Iran has denied the claims.
