Iranian Intelligence Detains 21 Accused of Spying for Mossad in Kerman

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry stated on Thursday that it had detained 21 people it alleges were connected to Israel’s foreign intelligence service, Mossad, as part of a series of intelligence and security operations conducted by the provincial intelligence directorate in Kerman, located in southeastern Iran.

The ministry said the detainees are accused of gathering classified information on sensitive sites within Iran’s military and defense sectors and transmitting that data to Mossad.

Arrests of armed militants and weapons seizures

Security forces also apprehended four armed individuals whom the ministry labeled “criminal elements” affiliated with armed gangs. Authorities reported seizing multiple military-grade weapons, ammunition, and hunting firearms from those arrested.

In a related development, the ministry confirmed the confiscation of four military weapons from five previously detained armed individuals. Those five were arrested earlier in connection with what the ministry described as an attempted coup in January 2026.

The ministry affirmed that all seized weapons and the accused individuals have been referred to the competent judicial authorities to proceed with legal measures.