Bahrain sentences two to life imprisonment for espionage on behalf of Iran's IRGC
Bahrain's High Criminal Court has convicted two men of spying for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and sentenced them to life in prison, ordering confiscation of seized materials as part of an ongoing crackdown on IRGC-linked networks.
Court Convicts Two Men of Espionage
Bahrain's High Criminal Court has sentenced two men to life imprisonment after convicting them of espionage on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, authorities announced. The court found the defendants guilty of communicating with the IRGC and its operatives to facilitate hostile acts targeting Bahrain's security and national interests.
The Public Prosecution said the convictions follow evidence that the men acted on behalf of the IRGC, which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Israel, Argentina and several other countries. The court ordered the confiscation of all seized items connected to the case.
Investigation and Evidence
According to prosecutors, the investigation began when Bahrain's Cyber Crime Directorate identified a social media account that allegedly expressed support for attacks targeting the kingdom. Investigators arrested the account's operator, who admitted to managing the account and communicating with a second suspect who remained outside Bahrain. The defendant allegedly provided locations and coordinates from within Bahrain to foreign operatives.
The case comes amid heightened security concerns following Iranian missile and drone strikes on Bahrain in February 2026, which hit multiple buildings in the capital Manama including the Juffair district, home to the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. Bahrain has hosted the American naval presence for years, making it a key strategic target and a source of long-standing tension with Tehran.
The Public Prosecution said forensic examinations of the suspect's electronic devices, witness testimony and the defendant's own statements supported the charges. The second suspect was tried in absentia after remaining outside the country. Prosecutors said the trial was conducted over several hearings during which legal safeguards, including the defendant's right to legal representation, were observed.
Broader Crackdown on IRGC Networks
The convictions are part of a broader security operation against IRGC-linked networks in Bahrain. In May 2026, Bahraini authorities arrested 41 individuals linked to a group associated with Iran's IRGC following intelligence operations addressing espionage cases and expressions of support for Iranian aggression. In June, the High Criminal Court sentenced nine defendants to life imprisonment in two linked espionage cases for collaborating with the IRGC in plots targeting the kingdom, with two others receiving three-year sentences.
Diplomatic Context
Bahrain severed diplomatic relations with Iran in January 2016 and remains the only Arab Gulf state without official diplomatic ties to Tehran, even after Saudi Arabia normalized relations with Iran in March 2023. The absence of diplomatic relations has made any contact with Iranian government-linked organizations particularly sensitive from a security perspective.
The Public Prosecution emphasized that Bahrain would continue to pursue anyone accused of unlawful cooperation or communication with hostile entities. Protecting the kingdom's national security remained a priority, prosecutors said, as authorities maintain vigilance against what they describe as ongoing efforts by the IRGC to conduct intelligence operations and support militant networks within Bahrain.
