Iran Bolsters Internal Controls Amidst Geopolitical Strain
In a period marked by ongoing uncertainty surrounding diplomatic resolutions to the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, authorities within Iran have reportedly heightened their internal security measures. This intensification of control is particularly noticeable in the capital, Tehran, and extends across various regions of the country. Over recent weeks, security forces and the morality police have reportedly increased restrictions, detentions, and penalties targeting individuals and businesses perceived as non-compliant with a broad spectrum of state-imposed regulations. These regulations pertain to practices deemed immoral or un-Islamic by the government.
Iranian clerical, political, and military-security officials have consistently emphasized the importance of a unified internal front to confront external pressures. This rhetoric often accompanies a diminishing tolerance for any form of dissent or non-compliance. The morality police, for instance, has been actively enforcing compulsory hijab laws, ordering business closures, and exerting pressure on students, legal professionals, and other segments of the population.
Domestic Unrest and State Response
The current climate is further complicated by the lingering impact of nationwide anti-establishment protests that occurred in January. These demonstrations reportedly resulted in thousands of fatalities and numerous arrests and executions. President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a recent televised interview, described these events as “bitter and unforgettable.” During the January unrest, Pezeshkian publicly accused US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of orchestrating the protests across multiple Iranian cities with the aim of destabilizing the Islamic Republic.
The state's security apparatus has responded with a combination of executions, arrests, asset seizures, and stringent controls over internet and media access. Heavily armed security forces and pro-establishment groups have maintained a visible presence in Tehran and other urban centers, particularly at night, to reinforce state-approved messaging. Iranian authorities have characterized the January protests, which represent the latest in a series of nationwide demonstrations in recent years, as a “coup” attempt orchestrated by the US and Israel. They have asserted that armed agents from intelligence agencies, specifically the CIA and Mossad, infiltrated the protests to incite violence, attack government facilities, and damage public property. Conversely, former officials, such as ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have suggested Mossad agents' involvement in the protests through social media. The government officially reports 3,117 deaths, predominantly on January 8 and 9, a figure that differs from higher estimates provided by human rights organizations and US officials.
Executions and Judicial Proceedings
A notable example of the state's response occurred on July 28 in Isfahan’s Alikhani Square, a site of previous protests. Here, two young men were publicly executed by hanging from a crane amidst a significant security presence. Their convictions included charges of 'moharebeh' or “waging war against God,” and “corruption on Earth,” reportedly linked to their alleged involvement in arson and the deaths of several security personnel during the unrest. Attempts by families and residents to intervene were reportedly met with force, with social media videos appearing to show shots being fired, although the judiciary denied any fatalities. Two additional young men have already been executed in connection with this case, and the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that a third narrowly avoided execution after suffering a stroke, though he remains at risk. In this specific 16-defendant Isfahan case alone, eight individuals reportedly still face execution. Similar cases are ongoing in Isfahan and other provinces across Iran, many of which are not officially reported.
United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk recently issued a statement indicating that at least 56 individuals have been executed on national security-related charges since March 19, with 27 of these cases linked to the January protests. Turk also warned that over 100 people are at risk of execution for similar offenses. Iranian authorities defend these executions as necessary deterrents against actions perceived to undermine national security, particularly given their assertion that the US and Israel seek to overthrow the Islamic Republic. They present the executions as retribution for the killings of security personnel, arson, and destruction that occurred during the protests. Judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei emphasized the importance of swift sentencing, stating in January that “timely and undelayed implementation of punishments for rioters is one of the elements of deterrence.”
International Concerns and Societal Impact
The UN and various international human rights organizations have called for a cessation of these executions. According to the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) non-governmental organization, executions in Iran increased by 68 percent in 2025, reaching over 1,600, the highest figure since 1989, shortly after the Iran-Iraq War. Beyond national security, offenses leading to execution include murder, drug-related crimes, rape, and blasphemy. Rights groups highlight that Iran's Islamic revolutionary courts, which handle security-related cases, often conduct closed-door hearings, with defendants reportedly subjected to abuses and families pressured into silence. Seven international UN experts and special rapporteurs stated last week that, under current national laws, it is virtually impossible to participate in state-critical protests without risking severe reprisals. They concluded that such repression only fuels further dissent, advocating for expanded civic space and guaranteed freedom of assembly and expression. Iranian military and security officials have previously warned that protests during wartime would aid the nation's adversaries.
In response to growing opposition to the executions and other security measures, the Tehran prosecutor’s office initiated legal action last week against unspecified online users accused of supporting those who were executed following the protests. A state television presenter, Mohsen Azadi, publicly criticized former Deputy Culture Minister Nadereh Rezaei for an online post suggesting that executions breed hatred. State authorities and affiliated media outlets frequently label many of the tens of thousands arrested during the January protests as “terrorists” or “rioters,” alleging they served US and Israeli interests. Hamidreza Moghaddamfar, a senior media adviser to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), characterized the January protests on state television as a meticulously planned US-Israeli “cognitive war” designed to maximize casualties and provoke US military intervention. He also criticized celebrities and businesspeople who supported protesters online, suggesting that even emotionally driven actions, if unintentional, amounted to treason.
Further security measures included the shutdown of global internet access for three weeks during the January protests, followed by a three-month blackout at the onset of the current conflict on February 28. While some connectivity has been restored, internet speeds remain slow, and access to most global messaging services and websites is still restricted by the state.
Control Over Public and Online Spaces
In recent weeks, numerous businesses, venues, online pages, and shops have been closed by authorities. Some closures were attributed to non-adherence to “Islamic norms,” specifically regarding compulsory dress codes, including head coverings and modest attire, enforced since the 1979 revolution. State media also cited guild violations or “social security promotion” in other cases. Popular cafes in Tehran’s central Sanaei area, known gathering spots for young people, were temporarily shut down. Similar closures of cafes and restaurants have occurred in cities like Mashhad, Isfahan, Yazd, and Rasht, despite the country facing an escalating economic crisis exacerbated by mismanagement, US sanctions, and regional conflicts. Opposition groups report that numerous bookstores in Tehran and Babol were sealed by judicial order last week, while private cultural centers organizing arts and music events were suspended, and their Instagram pages disabled. Several gyms were also closed, including one in Bandar Anzali, due to mixed-gender attendance and alleged promotion of “Western culture.”
According to local media and international rights groups, a significant number of students, teachers, actors, writers, lawyers, and minority groups have been targeted by state controls in recent months. The reformist newspaper Shargh reported that several dissident students were doxxed after anonymous Telegram channels allegedly published their personal information. The Coordinating Council of Iranian Teachers’ Trade Associations, one of the few active grassroots organizations in Iran, stated that some students were summoned or arrested on security-related charges. Last week, prominent actor Reza Kianian reposted an Instagram story, widely shared, expressing opposition to the January protest killings and ongoing executions, stating, “I cannot pretend that everything is normal. Our shared pain must not get lost amid the bustle of everyday life.”
