Following a devastating 12-day conflict with Israel, Iranian authorities have launched an aggressive internal crackdown, marked by mass arrests, executions, and intensified control over public expression and media. The Iranian government claims the measures are necessary to safeguard national security after an unprecedented infiltration by Israeli intelligence services allegedly led to high-profile assassinations, including those of senior Revolutionary Guard commanders and nuclear scientists.

Since the start of the conflict on June 13, over 700 people have been arrested for alleged links to Israeli intelligence networks. Six individuals accused of espionage have been executed, with three put to death just a day after the ceasefire. Many of the arrests and executions stem from charges such as “moharebeh” (waging war against God) and “corruption on Earth”, both capital offenses under Iranian law.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have condemned these actions, warning of forced confessions, unfair trials, and the use of the death penalty as a tool of fear and control. Reports have also emerged of text message warnings from the judiciary, threatening prosecution for following or interacting with Israeli-linked social media pages.

Iran’s judiciary and parliament are working to introduce harsher penalties for espionage and collaboration with perceived enemies, including the US and Israel. A new legislative proposal would define such actions as “corruption on Earth,” reinforcing the regime's legal justification for capital punishment.

Exiled Iranian journalists have also become targets. Authorities have detained relatives of journalists from outlets like BBC Persian and Iran International, demanding resignations and threatening family members with severe charges. These tactics echo past patterns of repression, including the infamous 1988 mass executions of political prisoners.

Simultaneously, Iranian authorities have detained dozens of domestic activists, writers, and artists, many of whom are linked to the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement. Internet restrictions remain in place, hindering public discourse and access to foreign media, while key platforms like Instagram, Telegram, and YouTube continue to be blocked.

Analysts warn that Iran's response to its military vulnerability and global isolation may usher in another era of internal repression, with the regime prioritizing control over public dissent above all else.