Report
Arab states of the Persian Gulf publicize alleged Iran spy cases
Since the Israeli-US war on Iran began in late February, Arab states of the Persian Gulf have announced the dismantling of at least nine purported espionage networks linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah, Amwaj.media reported. A Kuwaiti court sentenced three men to death on Oct. 26 over alleged spying for Iran and Hezbollah, prompting Tehran to deny involvement and Kuwait to summon Iran's ambassador. The disclosures range from dramatic public arrests in the UAE to restrained announcements in Qatar, reflecting differing diplomatic and domestic calculations.
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Amwaj.media reported that Qatar announced the first alleged IRGC-linked cells on March 3, less than four days after the war began, saying suspects had coordinates of critical infrastructure and had received drone training in Tehran. Bahrain later handed life sentences to suspects convicted of collaborating with the IRGC and revoked the citizenship of 69 people over allegations ranging from espionage to sympathy for Iranian attacks, the outlet said. The UAE publicized arrests in dramatic footage, while Kuwait's cases included an alleged infiltration of Bubiyan Island that Tehran said was caused by a navigation malfunction.
The outlet said Kuwait's Oct. 26 death sentences included Shiite cleric Hussein Al-Maatouq, former secretary-general of the National Islamic Alliance, and that Kuwait summoned Iran's ambassador on Oct. 28 over what it called blatant interference in its internal affairs and judiciary. Qatar's restraint was linked to its mediation role, while Oman and Saudi Arabia made no comparable public disclosures, according to the report.
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