HRANA – The spokesperson for the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FARAJA) has announced the arrest of 2,774 foreign nationals and dozens of individuals accused of “anti-security activities” following Israel’s recent attack on Evin Prison.
According to Tasnim News Agency, Saeed Montazer-al-Mahdi presented a report on the agency’s activities during Israel’s attack on Evin Prison, including statistics on arrests and security measures.. He claimed that some detainees face charges of espionage and unauthorized filming. The FARAJA spokesperson also reported that 21,000 people were arrested during the 12-day war, attributing the arrests to a 41% increase in public tip-offs.
Montazer-al-Mahdi stated that following the attack, a total of 2,774 foreign nationals were arrested by FARAJA officers. He said examinations of the detainees’ mobile phones revealed that some had filmed or photographed highlands and sensitive sites, and had sent location data.
The spokesperson further said that during the 12-day war, calls to the 110 police hotline rose by about 41%, leading to 7,850 citizen reports and the arrest of 21,000 “suspects.”
He added that among them, 261 people were arrested on suspicion of espionage and 172 on charges of unauthorized filming. Additionally, during investigations, 30 individuals described as “special security cases” were identified through data retrieved from the mobile phones of suspects and detainees.
While combating espionage is not considered a human rights violation in itself, given the Iranian government’s history of using such charges as a tool against political opponents, such claims—especially when details and judicial procedures remain unclear—are often viewed with skepticism.
The social deputy of FARAJA also said that 30 individuals who had expressed support for Israel’s recent attack on social media were arrested. According to him, legal cases were opened against another 35 people deemed “prone to anti-security activities.”
Montazer-al-Mahdi added that 147 social media pages belonging to individuals who had merely expressed joy over Israel’s recent attacks were identified, but he did not provide further details on what measures were taken against them.
He reported that police forces prevented a gathering in Tehran’s Palestine Square, describing it as linked to Israel’s recent aerial and drone operations. He said calls to join the gathering had previously circulated online.
The spokesperson also claimed that after the bombing of Evin Prison, 127 political and security prisoners attempting to escape were identified and arrested by the northern Tehran police security unit. Among them, he said, were two prisoners who had disguised themselves in firefighter uniforms.
In another part of his remarks, Montazer-al-Mahdi stated that during the 12-day war, over 40,000 FARAJA officers were stationed on urban and intercity roads. He added that since the start of the current year, about 102,000 conscripts have been dispatched to service, with 30,000 of them appointed as police officers in the past month alone.
On June 23, during Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, Evin Prison was directly targeted. Several parts of the prison were hit, including the entrance gate, the judiciary building inside the compound, the infirmary, Ward 209, the bakery, and the visitation hall.