Iran kills 'militants', arrests dozens in sweeping security crackdown

Iranian authorities have launched a sweeping security crackdown across multiple provinces, announcing the killing of suspected militants and the arrest of dozens accused of links to Israel, the US and opposition networks, as the war continues.

The operations, carried out by the intelligence ministry and the Revolutionary Guard, form part of escalating security campaigns since the outbreak of war on 28 February, targeting what officials describe as espionage, sabotage and armed separatist activity.

Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence said on Saturday that five members of armed separatist groups were killed and 19 others arrested in coordinated raids.

The ministry claimed the suspects were acting under "direct instructions from Israel" and had planted explosive devices in civilian areas, resulting in one death and seven injuries.

In Khuzestan province, which has a large ethnic Arab population, authorities said ten people were arrested on suspicion of links to an armed group accused of attacking security forces and public facilities. Three others were detained in Ardabil province in connection with the same group.

Security agencies also reported the arrest of six individuals in Khuzestan, Ardabil and Kerman on charges of gathering information on military and sensitive sites and sending it to media outlets linked to Israel via the opposition network Iran International.

In West Azerbaijan province, eight people were detained, including four members of what authorities described as a "separatist organisation" in the Kurdish-majority city of Mahabad, who were allegedly preparing an armed attack.

Further arrests were reported in Kashan, where three people were detained for alleged links to external opposition networks following a raid on their hideout.

In Ilam province, the Revolutionary Guard’s intelligence unit said 51 people had been arrested on charges including organising unrest, planning road closures, photographing military sites and missile impact locations, and communicating with opposition media.

Others were accused of attempting to disrupt pro-government gatherings.

In a separate operation, the intelligence ministry said 36 people were arrested in Kerman, Isfahan and Ilam for allegedly sending information to media outlets linked to Israel and acting as intermediaries in espionage networks online.

Authorities said Starlink satellite communication devices were seized from some detainees.

In Semnan province, police said several individuals were arrested for gathering field intelligence and planning possible attacks after communicating with accounts linked to Israel online.

Iranian authorities claimed that one suspect had requested a missile strike on the city, with authorities linking these activities to a 19 March airstrike that killed nine people and wounded 36.

The ministry also announced the arrest of 46 people across five provinces, Golestan, West Azerbaijan, Kerman, Isfahan and Ilam, on charges of planning "terrorist operations" or sending information about military sites to hostile entities.

Officials said weapons, ammunition and communication equipment were seized.

In Tehran, the Revolutionary Guard said 103 people had been arrested since the start of the war on charges of cooperating with hostile entities or planning sabotage.

Among them was a four-person cell accused of plotting to sabotage the capital’s electricity infrastructure, as well as a group linked to monarchist movements allegedly attempting to incite unrest.

Five others were arrested for allegedly planning attacks on security checkpoints, while dozens more were investigated for sending coordinates and images of sensitive sites to opposition media, according to the Guard.

In Bushehr province on the Gulf coast, the Revolutionary Guard said 35 people had been detained since the start of the war for alleged links to "terrorist groups and opposition media".

Authorities said the suspects were involved in espionage, gathering intelligence on military sites and infrastructure, and planning acts of sabotage aimed at destabilising the province.

The crackdown comes as Iranian authorities intensify domestic security measures amid the ongoing conflict, with officials warning of continued action against what they describe as foreign-backed threats.