Iran warns of executions, asset seizures for spying or aiding ‘hostile states’

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — People accused of spying or cooperating with “hostile states” could face the death penalty and confiscation of all assets under a recently enhanced law, an Iranian judiciary spokesperson said, a month into the war with the United States and Israel.

Even sharing photos or videos that could aid enemy targeting may be treated as intelligence cooperation, the spokesman added.

Iranian media have reported more than 1,000 arrests over the course of the month, related to individuals accused of filming sensitive locations, sharing anti-government content online, or “cooperating with the enemy.”

The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28 to degrade the Iranian regime’s military capabilities, distance threats posed by Iran — including its nuclear and ballistic missile programs — and “create the conditions” for the Iranian people to topple the regime, the military and other Israeli leaders have said.

Since then, conflict has spread across the region, disrupting energy supplies and hitting the global economy.

The judiciary spokesman said the legislation, passed last year, applies to operational, intelligence, and certain media activities deemed to support hostile governments, notably the US and Israel.

He warned that those creating “fear” through misinformation could face prison terms, with penalties increased in wartime.

He added that authorities have issued around 200 indictments in such cases and were working with security bodies to identify and seize assets linked to suspects, stressing that there would be no leniency in enforcing the law.

Iran faced nationwide protests that began in late December and peaked in the first week of January, prompting the deadliest crackdown by Iranian security forces since the Islamic Republic took power in 1979.

A complete death toll has been hard to gauge because of internet restrictions by authorities. The US-based Human Rights Activists New Agency, which relies on a network of contacts inside Iran, said it confirmed that more than 7,000 were killed and that it was investigating thousands more. It said over 50,000 were arrested in just over six weeks. The government acknowledged more than 3,000 were killed.

The initial bloody crackdown was followed by executions of anti-regime protesters.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.