Iranian authorities announce mass arrests of alleged monarchist networks, suspected US spies, and individuals linked to an outlawed TV channel amid ongoing regional war.

TEHRAN: Iranian authorities announced on Wednesday the arrest of more than 100 alleged “monarchist cells” accused of plotting against the state, alongside suspected spies and individuals linked to an outlawed television broadcaster.

The Intelligence Ministry stated its forces had “identified and arrested 111 monarchist cells across 26 provinces before they could take action on the last Wednesday of the year,” according to a statement carried by the Fars news agency.

It was not immediately clear how many individuals were involved in the alleged cells, which authorities claim were planning subversive actions.

The ministry also reported the arrest of four suspected spies linked to the United States in Hamedan city and West Azerbaijan province, both located in western Iran.

Authorities added that another 21 people were arrested for allegedly cooperating with the London-based broadcaster Iran International, which is outlawed in the country.

Officials said they had seized firearms, bladed weapons, stun guns and batons during the operations.

The arrests come as Iran remains at war with Israel and the United States, a conflict triggered by strikes that killed the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28.

Authorities have carried out sweeping raids in recent weeks, with local media reporting the arrest of hundreds of people suspected of cooperating with Israel and the United States in the last few days.

On Sunday, police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said a total of 500 people were arrested on suspicion of being spies and “sending information to the enemy and anti-Iranian media,” according to local media reports.

Iran has designated Iran International a terrorist organisation since 2022, warning that cooperation with the channel is punishable under Iranian law.

 The Sun Malaysia