Iran Arrests 30 Over Alleged Mossad Links, While Israel Charges Two With Spying for Iran

TEHRAN / TEL AVIV, Aug 6: Iran and Israel announced separate espionage-related cases on Thursday, with Iranian authorities arresting 30 people over alleged links to Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, while Israel charged two residents with spying for Iran.

Iran's Intelligence Ministry said the 30 suspects were arrested in the southeastern province of Kerman on accusations of cooperating with Mossad and gathering information on military and air defense sites. The ministry also alleged that those detained had participated in anti-government protests between December 2025 and January 2026, linking the demonstrations to broader national security allegations.

Iranian authorities did not provide further details on the evidence supporting the accusations or identify the individuals arrested.

Meanwhile, Israeli authorities charged two residents of the southern city of Ashkelon with carrying out espionage missions on behalf of Iranian intelligence in exchange for cryptocurrency.

In a joint statement, Israeli police and the Shin Bet security agency said Israeli citizen Tamerlan Amshukov and Ukrainian citizen Alina Kushnirko were arrested last month and indicted at the Tel Aviv District Court.

According to the statement, Amshukov allegedly received thousands of shekels from an Iranian handler to photograph sensitive locations, including the Port of Eilat and the Mount Herzl military cemetery and museum in Jerusalem. Authorities said some of the alleged missions were carried out together with Kushnirko, although no further details were disclosed.

Israeli authorities have reported dozens of arrests in recent months involving individuals suspected of spying for Iran. Many of the cases have involved allegations that suspects were paid to photograph sensitive sites or carry out other intelligence-related tasks.

The latest developments come amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, with both countries continuing to accuse each other of intelligence operations and covert activities.