In the turbulent days between June 13 and June 24, 2025, Iran found itself at the center of a dramatic and violent conflict with Israel—an episode now widely referred to as the 12-day war. While the world’s attention focused on the exchange of airstrikes and the mounting casualties, an equally significant story unfolded on the ground: the Iranian government’s sweeping domestic crackdown, which resulted in the arrest of 21,000 people across the country.
According to state media reports and statements from Iranian officials, this wave of arrests was, in large part, driven by what authorities described as “public reports.” Gen. Saeed Montazerolmahdi, spokesperson for the Law Enforcement Command, told state TV, “The arrest of 21,000 suspects during the 12-day war indicated high awareness and participation of people in providing security.” Reuters also cited Montazerolmahdi, who noted a 41 percent increase in calls from the public during the conflict, leading to the unprecedented number of detentions.
But what, exactly, were these thousands of people accused of? The answer is complex and, in some cases, remains shrouded in ambiguity. Montazerolmahdi did not specify the exact charges for most detainees, but he did say that more than 260 individuals were suspected of espionage, while another 172 were arrested for unauthorized or illegal filming. Police also established more than 1,000 checkpoints across Iran during the conflict, ramping up their street presence and urging citizens to report suspicious activity. This was the first time that Iranian police publicly released a total figure for arrests during the war period, as reported by the Associated Press.
The crackdown extended well beyond ordinary citizens. During the war, authorities arrested 2,774 undocumented foreign nationals, with many suspected of filming sensitive locations or taking videos of high-altitude areas. The state-run Fars News Agency initially reported that 700 foreign nationals had been arrested, but Montazerolmahdi later confirmed the higher figure. Examination of the detainees’ mobile phones revealed evidence that some had sent location data and images to undisclosed recipients. The issue of foreign nationals—particularly Afghan migrants—became a flashpoint, with some Iranian officials suggesting that Afghan migrants had been wrongly accused of espionage. As Mohammad Manan Raeisi, a member of parliament from Qom, stated in a July 15 interview on state TV, “Based on reliable information, among the spies of Israel, there is not even a single Afghan migrant.”
The domestic security apparatus was not only focused on suspected spies and foreign nationals. Authorities also targeted cybercrime, with the police’s cyber unit handling and resolving more than 5,700 cases during the 12-day span, including incidents of online fraud and unauthorized financial withdrawals. The cyberattack on the Nobitex cryptocurrency exchange, for example, was swiftly investigated, though officials did not release further details. As Montazerolmahdi put it, “cyberspace turned into an important battlefront.”
Meanwhile, the war’s chaos provided cover for a dramatic incident at Evin Prison, one of Iran’s most notorious detention centers. According to Montazerolmahdi, “In the Evin Prison incident, the northern Tehran security-police unit arrived at the scene in less than five minutes.” He reported that 127 political and security prisoners who intended to escape were apprehended, including two who had disguised themselves in firefighter uniforms. However, Asghar Jahangir, a spokesperson for the judiciary, offered a different account, saying that 75 prisoners left the facility after an Israeli bombing, with 48 returning voluntarily and the remaining 27 expected to return soon. Jahangir emphasized that these individuals were mostly open-sentence inmates with minor offenses, and their departure should not be considered an escape.
On the streets of Tehran and other major cities, the heightened security presence was palpable. The police identified 147 social media pages belonging to individuals they labeled as “thugs” who had expressed support or joy over Israel’s attacks on Iran. Thirty individuals were arrested for supporting Israel on social media, and judicial proceedings were initiated against 35 others. This digital policing reflected the government’s determination to control not just physical spaces but also the narrative in cyberspace.
The impact of the war was also reflected in crime statistics released by the authorities. During the crisis period, the rate of solved thefts increased by 48.8%, while the incidence of theft itself dropped by 15.5%. Violent crime solving rates grew by 85.9%, and the occurrence of such crimes decreased by over 20%. The murder rate fell by 23.3%, with more than 90% of murder cases reportedly solved. These figures, though precise, were not tied to specific dates by officials, but public reports suggested that many residents had left Tehran during the war, possibly influencing the crime rates. On June 15, the third day of the conflict, the Tehran SSF Command building was reportedly targeted by Israeli airstrikes, and social media posts indicated that the police emergency number was out of service for a time.
The aftermath of the conflict has been equally grim. Since the end of June, Iranian authorities have executed seven men convicted of spying for Israel, according to multiple reports from the Associated Press and Reuters. This has sparked deep concern among human rights activists, who fear that the government may be preparing for a broader wave of executions in the name of national security.
The human cost of the war itself was staggering. Israeli airstrikes killed nearly 1,100 people in Iran, including many military commanders, while retaliatory Iranian strikes killed 28 people in Israel, as reported by international wire services. The violence, coupled with the mass arrests and executions, has left a profound mark on both societies, deepening mistrust and raising questions about the future of civil liberties and political dissent in Iran.
Throughout the 12-day war and its aftermath, the Iranian government’s message has been clear: national security takes precedence over individual rights, and the public is expected to play an active role in policing itself. Whether this approach will lead to lasting stability or further unrest remains to be seen, but for now, the echoes of those 12 days continue to reverberate across the region.
