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Security crackdown unfolds in Iranian capital
Tehran residents report heightened security measures as authorities move to prevent anti-government demonstrations. Checkpoints have emerged across the city, internet access is restricted, and mass text alerts warn against dissent.
Checkpoints and drone strikes
Security forces have set up roadblocks in multiple districts, including under footbridges and inside tunnels. The adjustments follow reports that earlier checkpoints were targeted by drone attacks. On 11 March, the hardline Fars News Agency reported that Israeli strikes killed around 10 security personnel at four locations in Tehran.
Residents describe being stopped and searched. One man in his twenties told the BBC he avoided trouble by expressing gratitude to officers. "I started saying things like, 'Thanks for your hard work,' as if they were genuinely putting in a lot of effort," he said. Another young woman said she now avoids bright clothing to prevent drawing attention.
Internet blackout disrupts communication
Since the conflict began on 28 February, authorities have restricted internet access, limiting protesters' ability to organize. Encrypted messaging apps, typically used to share rally locations and calls to action, are largely unavailable.
A Tehran resident selling secure internet connections told the BBC he fears arrest. "What I do as a job is considered a crime in the Islamic Republic," he said. "I was really worried when a taxi I was in passed through a checkpoint in a tunnel."
On 12 March, police in Fars Province arrested a 37-year-old man accused of selling "unfiltered" internet via Starlink. Authorities seized a Starlink device and related equipment, with penalties for unauthorized use reaching up to two years in prison.
Government justifies restrictions
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on 10 March that authorities were working to restore internet access "for those who can broadcast the country's voice to the world." Meanwhile, rates for black-market internet on Telegram have surged to around $6 for 1 gigabyte, a steep cost in a country where the average monthly salary ranges from $200 to $300.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to CBS on 15 March, defended his access to Zoom while citizens face restrictions. "That's because I am the voice of all Iranians. I defend their rights," he said.
Pro-establishment rallies and warnings
Since late February, authorities have organized pro-government demonstrations and urged supporters to counter perceived destabilization efforts. Residents report hearing establishment-supporting chants and songs broadcast at night, accompanied by flag-bearing processions.
On 13 March, the IRGC's Intelligence Unit sent a text warning against protests, stating, "The evil enemy... is once again seeking to create fear and chaos in the streets. A blow harder than January 8 is awaiting the neo-ISIS [Islamic State]." The January protests saw at least 7,000 civilian deaths, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (Hrana).
Police Chief Brig Gen Ahmad Reza Radan declared on 10 March that anyone acting "at the behest of the enemy" would be treated as an "enemy," not a protester. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who earlier urged Iranians to "stand up against the establishment," later acknowledged uncertainty about regime change, saying he could not "say with certainty that the Iranian people will bring down the regime."
