Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 10, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 10, 2026
Iran’s Intelligence Ministry announced the arrest of dozens, including an unnamed foreign national accused of spying for the U.S., Israel, and Gulf states amid intensifying hostilities following the Feb. 28 U.S.–Israel airstrikes that killed Supreme Leader Khamenei, while rights groups say such arre
DUBAI, March 10 (Reuters) - Iran has arrested dozens including a foreign national for allegedly spying for the country's "enemies", the Intelligence Ministry said on Tuesday, amid a continued war with the U.S. and Israel.
The U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on February 28, killing the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several commanders.
During the ongoing conflict, Iran has launched retaliatory strikes against Gulf countries that are U.S. allies and host American military bases.
Without identifying the arrested person's nationality, Iran's Intelligence Ministry said the foreign national "was conducting espionage on behalf of the United States and Israel, and acting as a proxy for two Gulf countries," according to state media.
In the past years, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps have arrested dozens of dual nationals and foreigners, mostly on espionage and security-related charges.
Rights groups have accused the Islamic Republic of trying to win concessions from other countries through arrests on security charges that may have been trumped up. Tehran denies arresting people for political reasons.
The ministry also said "30 spies, internal mercenaries, and operational agents of Israel and the U.S." had been arrested over the past few days.
Separately, Iran's Police chief Ahmadreza Radan told state TV that some 81 people had been detained so far for "sharing internal Iranian information with hostile media and enemies". He did not give further information.
(Reporting by Elwely Elwelly; Editing by Alexandra Hudson, Parisa Hafezi and Stephen Coates)
Iran arrested dozens, including a foreign national, on allegations of spying for the country's 'enemies', specifically the US and Israel.
The foreign national's identity and nationality were not disclosed. Iran alleges the person spied for the US and Israel, acting as a proxy for two Gulf countries.
Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Gulf countries hosting US military bases following airstrikes by the US and Israel.
Those arrested are accused of espionage, being internal mercenaries, or sharing internal Iranian information with hostile media and enemies.
Iran's Intelligence Ministry says the arrests are for security concerns, while rights groups claim they may be aimed at political leverage.
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