Iranian authorities have announced the arrest of 87 individuals in Lorestan Province on charges of espionage and collaboration with Israel, amid the ongoing 12-day conflict between the two nations.

Brigadier General Yahya Elahi, the police commander of Lorestan, stated that the arrests were made following intelligence operations and public cooperation. 

The suspects are accused of “disturbing public opinion, sabotage, communication with foreign intelligence agencies, and possession of explosives”.

The arrests reportedly occurred during a period of heightened military activity, including Israeli airstrikes that targeted both military and civilian sites across Iran. Iranian media claim hundreds of non-combatants were killed in the attacks.

General Elahi emphasized the role of public trust in facilitating the arrests, noting that over 16,000 citizen reports were submitted to police during the conflict period. The detainees have been transferred to judicial authorities for further investigation.

Iranian officials have not disclosed the identities or nationalities of the suspects, nor provided evidence of foreign-made weaponry. 

Independent analysts have raised concerns about the transparency of the arrests, citing previous cases of coerced confessions and staged evidence.

The incident marks one of the largest mass arrests in Iran linked to alleged Israeli espionage, reflecting the deepening hostilities between Tehran and Tel Aviv.