Iran's head of the judiciary said on Monday there should be no leniency or delay in issuing verdicts against those affiliated with Israel and the United States. "We must not delay or show leniency in executing final verdicts against those who, during wartime and unrest, committed crimes and were affiliated with the aggressor enemy," said Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei, according to Tasnim news agency.
He added that it was "necessary to accelerate the review and resolution of cases involving elements accused of threatening public security."
Authorities have in recent weeks carried out sweeping raids across Iran, arresting in the last few days hundreds of people suspected of cooperating with Israel and the United States, local media reported.
On Sunday, police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said a total of 500 people were arrested on suspicion of being spies and "sending information to the enemy and anti-Iranian media," according to local media.
"Out of these 500 people, 250 were significant cases who were providing information to hit targets, were in contact with militant groups and were trying to disrupt public order," he said.
It was not immediately clear when the arrests took place.
On February 28, Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran, killing its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggering a war that has spread across the Middle East.
