Following Israel’s airstrikes on June 13, Iranian authorities have launched a sweeping internal security crackdown marked by mass arrests, executions, and heavy military deployments, particularly in the country’s restive Kurdish regions. Officials and activists say the Islamic Republic is now more focused on pre-empting domestic unrest than retaliating militarily.
Security forces have established numerous checkpoints across major cities and border regions, accompanied by arrests and expanded surveillance. The crackdown comes amid fears within the Iranian establishment of potential uprisings or sabotage by separatist groups and opposition factions, including the exiled People’s Mujahideen Organisation.
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Despite rising public discontent, including frustration over policies blamed for provoking Israeli attacks, there have been no large-scale protests so far. Rights activists inside Iran report a climate of fear, with dozens summoned or detained for merely expressing dissent. “We are being extremely cautious right now,” said one Tehran-based activist, previously jailed during the 2022 protests.
Human rights group HRNA reported at least 705 arrests on political or security-related charges since the start of the Israeli campaign. Three people accused of spying for Israel were executed in Urmia, all reportedly Kurdish, highlighting the regime’s targeting of ethnic minorities in its security dragnet.
Military reinforcements have been sent to border regions, and opposition groups report house-to-house searches and the occupation of schools by Revolutionary Guards in Kurdish provinces. Local Kurdish parties claim more than 500 of their members have been detained, while Iranian officials remain silent on the scope of the operation.
