Authorities in Tehran have intensified security measures as tensions rise over the possibility of anti-establishment protests. Residents report the installation of multiple checkpoints across the capital, alongside tighter restrictions on internet access and warning messages sent to citizens.
According to people who spoke with BBC News, security personnel have set up checkpoints under pedestrian bridges and inside road tunnels. Vehicles are frequently stopped and searched as part of efforts to maintain control in the city.
The security presence increased after Israeli strikes reportedly targeted several checkpoints earlier this month. The Fars News Agency said that a number of security personnel were killed when four checkpoints were hit in different districts of Tehran.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that thousands of civilians have died during recent protests, highlighting the scale of unrest that has shaken the country.
Many residents say they are adjusting their behaviour to avoid attention from security forces. Some have changed how they dress or how they interact with officers when passing through checkpoints in order to avoid potential trouble.
Internet access has also been severely limited since the conflict escalated. The blackout has made it difficult for people inside Iran to communicate with the outside world or organise demonstrations. Messaging platforms that are commonly used to coordinate protests have been largely unavailable.
Despite these restrictions, some tech-savvy residents have reportedly used satellite internet services such as SpaceX’s Starlink to bypass the government’s controls. Authorities, however, have been cracking down on such networks.
Police in Fars Province recently announced the arrest of a man accused of selling “unfiltered” internet through Starlink devices. Officials said the suspect had set up a network operating across several provinces.
Using Starlink in Iran is illegal and can carry prison sentences of up to two years. Authorities have reportedly been searching for satellite dishes in an effort to block access.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said efforts were underway to restore internet services for certain groups that can communicate the country’s position internationally.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that internet access is being sold on messaging platform Telegram at high prices, making it unaffordable for many people in a country where average monthly salaries remain relatively low.
Residents also report hearing pro-government slogans broadcast from loudspeakers at night, while groups carrying national flags march through the streets in support of the establishment.
At the same time, authorities have warned against any attempt to organise protests. Messages reportedly sent by the intelligence wing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps cautioned citizens against demonstrations and warned of severe consequences.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, recently called on Iranians to challenge their leadership. However, he later acknowledged that it remains uncertain whether such unrest could lead to major political change in the country.
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