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Iran Arrests 97 in Major Anti-Israel Crackdown

3/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On March 19, 2026, Iran's intelligence ministry arrested 97 individuals accused of being "soldiers of Israel" per state media.
The arrests form part of a security sweep with hundreds detained since the war's onset, linked to Israel and the United States.
Earlier, 41 people were arrested for sending videos to foreign opposition media.
The crackdown followed the assassination of Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmaeil Khatib, in an Israeli strike.

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Story summary

On March 19, 2026, Iran's intelligence ministry arrested 97 individuals accused of being "soldiers of Israel" per state media.
The arrests form part of a security sweep with hundreds detained since the war's onset, linked to Israel and the United States.
Earlier, 41 people were arrested for sending videos to foreign opposition media.
The crackdown followed the assassination of Iran’s intelligence minister, Esmaeil Khatib, in an Israeli strike.