Iran arrested 20 alleged "Israeli" spies in recent months: Iranian judiciary

The Iranian judiciary announced on Saturday the arrest of 20 suspects accused of being agents for "Israeli" intelligence (Mossad) over the past few months, vowing to deal firmly with such individuals to set an example, according to Reuters.

Official media reported that Iran executed a nuclear scientist named Rouzbeh Vaadi on Wednesday for spying for Israel and passing information about another nuclear scientist killed in Israeli airstrikes in June.

Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangiri told reporters in Tehran that charges against some of the 20 suspects have been dropped and they were released, without specifying how many.

Jahangiri emphasized, “The judiciary will show no leniency toward spies and agents of the Zionist regime and will make all convicted individuals an example by issuing deterrent sentences.”

Full details will be announced once investigations are complete.

Executions of Iranians convicted of spying for Israel have surged this year, with at least eight death sentences carried out recently.