Iran Arrests Opposition Figures Citing Ties to the U.S. & Israel

Iranian authorities have detained senior reformist political figures as part of a widening security crackdown following nationwide unrest in January, framing domestic dissent as a national security threat linked to foreign adversaries. The arrests underscore how Tehran is tightening internal controls while confronting pressure from the United States and Israel and pursuing parallel diplomatic engagement.

Security Framing of Domestic Politics

Iran’s judiciary said four people were arrested on Sunday for attempting to “disrupt the country’s political and social order” and for acting “for the benefit” of Israel and the United States.

According to the official Mizan news agency, authorities accused the group of “organising and leading extensive activities aimed at disrupting the political and social situation” at a time when Iran faced “military threats” from Washington and Israel. The judiciary also said the detainees sought “to justify the actions of the terrorist foot soldiers on the streets.”

Iranian media identified three of those detained as prominent reformist figures: Azar Mansouri, head of Iran’s Reform Front, Mohsen Aminzadeh, a former diplomat, and Ebhrahim Asgharzadeh, a former parliamentarian. The fourth individual has not been named publicly.

The arrests followed antigovernment protests that erupted in January over economic conditions and rapidly spread beyond Tehran into a nationwide movement.

IRGC Role and Reform Front Response

Iran’s Reform Front confirmed the arrests in a statement posted on X, saying Mansouri was detained “from the door of her home under a judicial order” by intelligence forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The group added that the IRGC has issued summons to other senior figures, including deputy chairman Mohsen Armin and secretary Badral Sadat Mofidi, signaling a broader investigation beyond the initial four arrests.

According to Al Jazeera’s report, the detained politicians face “serious allegations.” Aminzadeh served as a deputy foreign minister during the presidency of Mohammad Khatami from 1997 to 2005, while Asgharzadeh is a former lawmaker and student leader involved in the 1979 takeover of the U.S. embassy.

Casualty Disputes and Protest Fallout

The January unrest left sharply contested casualty figures. Iranian authorities said 3,117 people were killed during the protests, rejecting United Nations and international human rights claims that state forces were responsible for most deaths.

The government said the majority of fatalities occurred on the nights of January 8 and 9. By contrast, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said it has verified 6,854 deaths and is investigating 11,280 additional cases. Thousands more were arrested, according to rights groups.

Iranian officials consistently labeled protesters as “terrorists” and blamed the unrest on foreign interference by Israel and the United States, a narrative now echoed in the charges against reformist politicians.

External Pressure and Parallel Diplomacy

The crackdown unfolded as tensions with Washington intensified. U.S. President Donald Trump threatened new attacks if Iran used force against protesters and cited his earlier decision to order U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites last June.

He also ordered the deployment of a naval “armada” to the Gulf region, prompting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to warn of a “regional war” if Iran were attacked.

Regional diplomacy followed. Iran and the United States held indirect talks in Oman on Friday, which President Masoud Pezeshkian described as “a step forward” on social media, adding that his government favored continued dialogue.

Another round of talks is scheduled for next week. Meanwhile, Iran’s top military commander, Major-General Abdolrahim Mousavi, warned that the entire region would be engulfed in conflict if Iran is attacked, saying, “While being prepared, we genuinely have no desire to see the outbreak of a regional war.”