Tehran, Iran – Iranian provinces are witnessing an unprecedented wave of repressive practices and arbitrary arrests by Iranian security forces. These phenomena began following the start of US and Israeli military operations within the country. According to official statements and conflicting human rights reports, these persecutions have intensified, targeting dozens of citizens on fabricated charges related to contact with foreign entities. These measures were taken by the regime in an attempt to control its fractured domestic front.
Details of the security campaign in the governorates
A report issued by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence on Tuesday, April 24, stated that at least 30 citizens were arrested in the provinces of Hamadan, Lorestan, and Kerman. The largest number of arrests took place in Hamadan province, where 24 people were detained at once. Authorities accused the detainees of “sending precise coordinates” of sensitive military, police, and security sites. They were also accused of monitoring the movements of military equipment. Despite a lack of conclusive evidence, the intelligence service claimed to have seized technical equipment, including 11 new-generation Starlink devices and quantities of firearms and bladed weapons. In a clear attempt to criminalize the possession of satellite communication devices, the regime is trying to suppress what citizens rely on to circumvent digital censorship.
Expanding the scope of pursuits and alternative military bases
The crackdown was not limited to Hamadan; it extended to Lorestan province, where four citizens were arrested on charges of “spying for Israel.” Meanwhile, in Kerman province, two individuals operating “under the guise of a family” and in possession of weapons and ammunition were apprehended, and the pursuit continued. In a related development, police in Semnan province announced the arrest of three citizens in the city of Shahroud. Police claimed that interrogations revealed their intention to collect and leak military documents to the United States. Field reports indicate a dangerous escalation in the regime’s security strategy. With foreign military operations targeting security headquarters and police stations, repressive forces have begun converting schools and educational institutions into military bases and launching pads for their operations. This places civilians and students at the center of the danger and violates international norms.
Context of military and political escalation
These arrests, which have targeted nearly 100 people in quick succession, are part of a state of heightened security alert in Iran. Observers believe the regime’s use of accusations of “ties to the United States and Israel” is a traditional tool for suppressing any internal dissent that might coincide with external military pressures. Especially given the deterioration of the Iranian police’s security infrastructure following recent attacks, the regime is resorting to this tactic. The language of “extracted interrogations” and the accusations leveled against citizens reflect a state of security panic. Tehran is attempting to export its internal crises by pursuing those it labels “sabotage cells” without providing any legal guarantees of a fair trial.
