Five detained in Türkiye for alleged spying for Iranian intelligence
Person wearing a cap stands by a window with translucent curtains, looking through binoculars while a camera with a telephoto lens is mounted on a tripod beside them, accessed on March 14, 2025. (Adobe Stock Photo)
Turkish intelligence services have detained five individuals suspected of spying for Iran in a coordinated operation spanning three provinces, authorities announced Friday.
The operation, jointly conducted by Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, led to arrests in Istanbul, Antalya, and Mersin following an extensive investigation into alleged espionage activities.
According to officials, the suspects are accused of gathering sensitive information about Turkish military bases and other strategically important locations within Türkiye, as well as collecting intelligence on critical points abroad, which they allegedly transmitted to Iranian intelligence services.
CNN TURK shared details of the operation, stating: “A coordinated operation was carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and MIT. It was determined that certain individuals affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards were conducting espionage activities in Türkiye. MIT placed specific individuals under surveillance. Five people were detained as part of the operation.”
Authorities revealed that the suspects were apprehended in simultaneous raids across the three provinces. The investigation appears to focus on potential connections to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, suggesting a sophisticated intelligence-gathering network operating within Turkish borders.
Officials have not yet released the identities of those detained or specified when they might face formal charges.
