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Iran’s judiciary has seized assets belonging to 240 individuals over alleged collaboration with Israel and other hostile regimes, the Judiciary’s Media Center reported on Monday. The action, carried out in recent months under judicial orders, targeted people accused of carrying out propaganda or practical actions against the country that caused extensive damage to infrastructure. Judiciary spokesman Ali Kazemi said the properties belong to the Iranian people and that the judiciary would ensure they are used to compensate victims of the alleged offenses.
The seizures included 143 properties and assets in Tehran, according to a judicial announcement carried by state broadcaster IRIB. Some of the assets belonged to individuals described as journalists working for counterrevolutionary media outlets including Iran International and Manoto, as well as activists and managers of hostile media, the Judiciary’s Media Center stated. The development also involved the freezing of 182 bank accounts belonging to the accused nationwide, with more than 2,000 inquiries directed to the Central Bank regarding their finances.
Iran enacted an enhanced espionage law last year that permits the death penalty and complete confiscation of assets for those found aiding the United States, Israel or other designated hostile states or groups, L’Orient Today reported. Offenses range from conferring legitimacy on Israel to sharing images or information with foreign networks, according to provisions in the legislation. The judiciary has increased capital punishment and security-related convictions amid recent escalations, citing charges such as collaboration with foreign intelligence services.
Authorities have carried out thousands of arrests during wartime security sweeps, alleging cooperation or intelligence sharing with foreign actors, Press TV reported in a related announcement. This latest action builds on a June sweep in which more than 3,000 suspected collaborators were detained, including 684 accused of operational activities for Israel and 1,258 charged with political propaganda, the judiciary said at the time. Hundreds of assets had already been identified and confiscated in earlier phases of the crackdown.
In a similar move reported in June, authorities in Isfahan province seized assets of 100 alleged traitors accused of supporting crimes by the country’s enemies, Dawn newspaper noted. The judiciary has issued indictments against figures including Reza Pahlavi and nearly 300 individuals linked to Iran International and Manoto networks in parallel proceedings. Spokesman Ali Kazemi reiterated that the judiciary would pursue further measures to address damages attributed to these activities.
The seizures reflect a broader pattern of judicial actions tied to national security laws, with the Ministry of Justice directing that confiscated properties serve the public interest. Iranian officials have maintained that such steps protect state infrastructure and compensate those harmed by the accused actions. The judiciary’s announcements have been distributed through state media channels including IRIB.
