Iran Detains 'Pro-Israel' Activist Hossein Ronaghi as Regime Targets Dissent
Iranian activist Hossein Ronaghi faces charges of “pro-Israel propaganda” for an Instagram post, part of a massive post-ceasefire crackdown targeting hundreds of dissidents. The regime’s arrests, executions, and new laws aim to suppress dissent following the June 2025 Iran-Israel conflict.
In a chilling escalation of Iran’s post-ceasefire crackdown, authorities have arrested 37-year-old political activist Hossein Ronaghi, charging him with “propaganda against the Islamic Republic in favor of Israel” for an Instagram story posted during the 12-day Iran-Israel conflict that ended June 24, 2025. The arrest, ordered by Tehran’s prosecutor and the Culture and Media Court under Article 8 of the Law on Confronting Israeli Actions, is part of a broader operation targeting over 700 dissidents across five provinces since the ceasefire. Ronaghi is being held in a Ministry of Intelligence safe house under a 30-day detention order, with his whereabouts undisclosed to his family. His long-time lawyers, Saeed Jalilian and Milad Panahipour, have been barred from representing him, as authorities insist on judiciary-approved counsel only.
Ronaghi, a veteran activist, has faced repeated arrests over the past 15 years. In 2009, he and his brother Hassan were detained for aiding journalists and activists in bypassing internet censorship during Iran’s disputed presidential election protests. He was also charged with insulting Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei via blog posts. In September 2022, Ronaghi was arrested during the Woman, Life, Freedom protests sparked by Mahsa Amini’s death in custody, detained alongside his lawyers outside Evin Prison’s prosecutor’s office, and later released on bail. Known for hunger strikes to protest prison conditions, Ronaghi’s health has deteriorated due to prior torture, raising fears for his safety.
The crackdown follows Iran’s failed missile retaliation against Israel’s June 13, 2025, strikes on its nuclear and military sites, which killed over 900 Iranians, including top commanders. At least six individuals, including three Kurds in Oroumieh, were executed for alleged “espionage for Israel” since June 25, with fears of more to come. Iran’s parliament is pushing a bill to classify intelligence activities for “hostile governments” as “corruption on earth,” a capital offense. Judiciary spokesman Asghar Jahangir stated Sunday, “Details on arrests and charges will be provided soon.” Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, condemn the arbitrary executions and expedited trials, while the Center for Human Rights in Iran reports hundreds more arrests in Tehran. X posts reflect outrage, with one user stating, “Hossein Ronaghi’s only crime is speaking truth, free him now!” Checkpoints in Tehran and restricted internet access signal heightened repression, reminiscent of the 1980s Iran-Iraq War purges.