Iran Issues Public Spy Warning

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a nationwide warning urging citizens to resist espionage recruitment efforts following a 12-day military assault by Israel. The warning comes amid a crackdown in which Tehran arrested suspected spies accused of working with foreign security services.

The message specifically cautioned the public against enemy attempts to infiltrate through mobile phone applications and digital propaganda. The appeal follows direct attacks on Iranian soil, cyber warfare, and domestic sabotage widely attributed to Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency.

Newsweek has reached out the foreign ministries of Iran and Israel for comment.

Why It Matters

Iran’s public warning about foreign spy recruitment through mobile apps follows the intense Israeli air campaign inside Iran, which also saw the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites. This connection highlights a new front in the conflict that now blends physical strikes with cyber and espionage warfare targeting civilians. As Iran braces against both external military pressure and internal digital threats, the warning reflects a broader challenge facing nations globally in an era of hybrid warfare.

What To Know

The IRGC’s public message emphasized “coordinated efforts by foreign spy services to recruit Iranians through mobile applications and digital ads.” The statement urged citizens not only to avoid such messages but also to “alert others to the threat.” While no country was explicitly named, it makes clear that Israel and its allies are the intended targets.

Posted in Farsi on X, Iran’s ISNA news agency published the IRGC warning, which also stated that “compatriots should vigilantly reject these tactics and inform others as well.”

Spy Crackdown

Since Israel’s attack on June 13, and continuing after the ceasefire declared on June 24, Iranian authorities have launched a campaign to shore up domestic security. Iran has detained more than 700 individuals accused of collaborating with Israel or other hostile foreign governments. The crackdown has included mass arrests, swift trials, and multiple executions involving alleged spies.

Israeli Fears

Meanwhile, the Israeli government has launched its own media campaign warning citizens against being lured into espionage by Iran. Announced by Israel’s National Government Diplomacy Directorate, the campaign—titled “Easy Money, Heavy Cost”—features video and audio messages cautioning that the legal consequences of spying for Tehran far outweigh any minor financial reward. The ads are set to run across radio, websites, and major social media platforms.

Over the past year, Israeli authorities say they uncovered over 25 Iranian recruitment cases and indicted more than 35 Israelis on serious charges.

What People Are Saying

IRGC Intelligence Organization: “Please take action to inform those around you and be vigilant regarding this enemy tactic.”

Israel’s National Government Diplomacy Directorate: “The Iranian enemy is expected to further intensify its recruitment efforts and task execution within Israel.”

What Happens Next

In the wake of military strikes and internal arrests, Iran is expected to ramp up surveillance, expand digital monitoring, and strengthen security measures as its conflict with Israel and the U.S. intensifies on both foreign and domestic fronts.