DUBAI — Iran’s judiciary has warned that people accused of spying or cooperating with “hostile states” could face the death penalty and confiscation of all assets under a recently enhanced law, a judiciary spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The announcement comes about a month into the conflict with the United States and Israel. The spokesperson said the legislation, passed last year, applies to operational, intelligence and certain media activities deemed to support hostile governments.
Even sharing photos or videos that could aid enemy targeting may be treated as intelligence cooperation, the spokesman added, according to statements reported by Iranian state media and carried by international outlets.
The judiciary did not provide specific examples of recent cases tied to the warning or details on how many individuals have been charged under the enhanced provisions. Iranian officials have previously reported arrests related to online activities and alleged cooperation with foreign powers.
Iran has a history of applying the death penalty in espionage cases. No immediate response was available from U.S. or Israeli officials to the latest warning.
The spokesperson’s comments were made during a regular briefing on judicial matters. Iranian state media, including the judiciary’s Mizan news agency, published the remarks.
As of Tuesday, no new executions or specific charges linked directly to the announcement were reported. Details on the exact scope of enforcement or any ongoing investigations remained unclear.
The conflict that escalated in late February has led to increased security measures inside Iran, with authorities citing risks from foreign intelligence activities. Further details on implementation of the law or additional statements from Iranian officials were not immediately available.
