Iran tries unnamed dual national on Israel spying allegations

Mizan, the judiciary’s outlet quoted the chief justice of Alborz province, Hossein Fazeli Herikandi as saying that the defendant, who is a European country resident, allegedly held “multiple meetings with Mossad officers during a visit to Israel.”

Harikandi provided no evidence supporting the accusation and did not disclose the suspect’s identity – a pattern seen in past espionage cases brought by the Islamic Republic, many of which have later been discredited.

Rights groups note that Iran has repeatedly detained, prosecuted and even executed individuals on espionage charges without presenting verifiable proof.

One of the most prominent examples is the case of Mazyar Ebrahimi, arrested in 2012 and tortured into confessing to assassinating nuclear scientists – a claim he later exposed as fabricated.

Arrest during the 12-day war

Intelligence agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Mizan said, arrested the dual national on the fourth day of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel.

“Complex espionage and intelligence equipment” was found at his residence, the report said, but did not specify what those items were or whether the defendant has had access to independent legal counsel.

Following the war, Iran’s judiciary has accelerated arrests and prosecutions on charges of “espionage” or “collaboration with Israel.” In October, political prisoner Javad Naeimi was executed in Qom on such charges.

Pattern of politically driven arrests

Over recent years, the Islamic Republic has detained dozens of foreign and dual nationals, often accusing them of spying or security offenses. Human-rights groups describe the practice as “state hostage-taking,” arguing Tehran uses detainees to pressure Western governments and extract concessions.

International monitors have repeatedly cited Iran’s judiciary for due-process violations, noting that many political defendants are denied independent lawyers and face opaque trials.