WSJ: Iran intensifies crackdown to head off uprising amid war

Iran’s authorities have launched a sweeping crackdown on domestic dissent, arresting hundreds of people suspected of collaborating with foreign entities and warning of lethal force against potential protesters amid ongoing war.

Security forces, weakened by sustained U.S. and Israeli strikes on key institutions including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij militia, have tightened control over major cities. Bombing raids have reportedly hit headquarters and command posts of Iran’s police and affiliated paramilitary groups, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Despite the damage, residents say security forces are maintaining a strong presence on the streets, using intimidation tactics to deter unrest. Armed men, often in plainclothes and with covered faces, reportedly patrol neighbourhoods on motorcycles, particularly at night, when many residents avoid leaving their homes.

Authorities have also established a network of checkpoints in cities such as Tehran, where vehicles are routinely stopped and searched.

According to police commander Ahmad-Reza Radan, at least 500 people have been arrested since the start of the war. Detainees face accusations including sharing information with international media or foreign forces to help identify targets. Others were detained for photographing or filming sites hit by airstrikes.

State media reported that 11 individuals suspected of supporting exiled opposition figure Reza Pahlavi were killed after allegedly resisting arrest.

Officials have escalated warnings against public demonstrations, issuing statements via television broadcasts and text messages that indicate a shoot-to-kill policy is in place. Over the weekend, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sent messages to mobile users warning that any unrest would be met with “a stronger blow than January 8,” referencing recent mass killings of anti-government protesters.

Human rights group Human Rights Activists in Iran reports that nearly 7,000 demonstrators have been killed in recent unrest, with members of the Revolutionary Guard and Basij militia identified as the main perpetrators.

A near-total internet blackout imposed at the start of the war remains in place, severely limiting communication and access to information. Connectivity has been further restricted in recent days, according to NetBlocks.

By Sabina Mammadli