Individuals accused of espionage or collaboration with “hostile states” in Iran now face the death penalty along with the confiscation of all their assets, following the implementation of a recently strengthened law. This announcement comes a month into the escalating conflict involving the United States and Israel.
Authorities have indicated that even sharing images or videos that could assist enemy targeting efforts might be classified as intelligence cooperation. Over the past month, Iranian media have reported more than 1,000 arrests linked to allegations such as filming sensitive sites, disseminating anti-government material online, or collaborating with adversaries.
In a significant development, the conflict intensified after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28. Since then, the hostilities have expanded across the region, resulting in thousands of casualties, disruptions to energy supplies, and adverse effects on the global economy.
The judiciary spokesperson clarified that the legislation, enacted last year, targets operational, intelligence, and certain media activities considered supportive of hostile governments, particularly the United States and Israel. He further cautioned that individuals spreading misinformation to instill fear could face imprisonment, with penalties heightened during wartime.
Meanwhile, authorities have issued approximately 200 indictments related to these offenses and are collaborating with security agencies to identify and confiscate assets connected to suspects. The spokesperson emphasized that enforcement of the law would be strict, with no tolerance for leniency.
