Rabat – Iranian authorities are tightening security across the capital, Tehran, in an apparent effort to prevent anti-establishment protests, residents have told the BBC.
Security checkpoints have appeared across the city, internet access has been restricted, and residents have received warning text messages from security agencies as officials seek to prevent demonstrations similar to those seen earlier this year.
Residents say new checkpoints have been set up across Tehran, where people are stopped and searched by security forces.
Checkpoints almost everywhere across Tehran
Some of the checkpoints are reportedly positioned under footbridges and inside road tunnels. Residents told BBC Persian this change followed reports that several checkpoints located in the middle of roads were targeted by drone strikes.
According to the hardline Fars News Agency, Israeli strikes on March 11 hit four checkpoints across Tehran, killing several Iranian security personnel. Unofficial estimates cited by the outlet suggested that around ten members of the security forces were killed in strikes across four districts of the capital.
A man in his twenties told the BBC he had been stopped at a checkpoint where his car was searched. He said he attempted to avoid problems by praising the officers.
“I started saying things like, ‘Thanks for your hard work,’ as if they were genuinely putting a lot of effort,” he said. Security forces allowed him to continue after searching his vehicle.
Another resident said the increased patrols have changed how people behave in public.
“I always wear colorful clothes. But now I don’t,” said a woman in her twenties.
“I’m scared of their patrols and worried that if I wear something too bright, it might annoy them.”
Heavy internet crackdown
Internet access in Iran has also been heavily restricted since the start of the war, making it difficult for residents to communicate both domestically and internationally.
The blackout has made coordination of potential protests significantly harder. Encrypted messaging apps and social media platforms are often used to organize rallies and share protest locations. When these platforms are unavailable, mobilization becomes far more difficult.
Some residents have been turning to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet system to bypass restrictions. A man who sells secure internet connections said he was fearful while traveling through a checkpoint in a taxi.
“What I do as a job is considered a crime in the Islamic Republic,” he said. I was really worried because I had my laptop and phone with me.”
Iranian authorities have been attempting to crack down on the use of Starlink devices. According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, police in Fars Province arrested a 37-year-old man accused of setting up a network selling “unfiltered” internet via Starlink across several provinces. Authorities said a Starlink device and related equipment were found during the arrest.
Using Starlink in Iran can carry a prison sentence of up to two years.
Despite the restrictions, some Iranians are reportedly buying limited internet access through channels on the Telegram messaging app. Prices seen by the BBC are around $6 for one gigabyte of data, a high cost in a country where average monthly salaries are estimated to be between $200 and $300.
Internet for those who support the regime
Meanwhile, government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said on March 10 that authorities were working to restore internet access “for those who can broadcast the country’s voice to the world.”
Residents have also received warning text messages sent by the Intelligence Unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), cautioning against participation in protests.
One message seen by BBC Persian warned that “the evil enemy is once again seeking to create fear and chaos in the streets,” adding that a severe response awaited those involved.
Police Chief Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Radan said on March 10 that anyone attempting to act “at the behest of the enemy” would be treated not as a protester but as an “enemy.”
Authorities have also organized pro-government rallies and encouraged supporters to take to the streets to counter what officials described as attempts to destabilize the country.
So far, there have been no signs of large-scale protests like those seen in January.
However, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it had confirmed the killing of at least 7,000 civilians during the unrest earlier this year.
The situation has drawn international attention. On March 8, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a direct message urging Iranians to stand up against the country’s establishment.
But speaking during his first press conference since the start of the war on March 12, he said he could not say “with certainty” whether the Iranian people would overthrow the government.
Meanwhile, some residents of Tehran say they have heard loudspeakers playing pro-government chants and songs at night while supporters carrying flags of the Islamic Republic move through parts of the city.