Iranian authorities have increased security measures across Tehran in an effort to prevent potential anti-government protests, according to residents who spoke to the BBC. People in the capital say new checkpoints have appeared on roads across the city, with security forces stopping vehicles and searching drivers and passengers. Some residents told BBC Persian that the checkpoints have been positioned under footbridges and inside road tunnels. They said the locations may have changed after several checkpoints placed in open streets were reportedly targeted by drone strikes. According to the hardline Fars News Agency, Israeli strikes earlier this month hit four checkpoints in Tehran, killing a number of security personnel. Unofficial estimates cited by the outlet suggested that around 10 members of the security forces died in the attacks. Residents describe tighter controlsPeople in Tehran described a tense atmosphere as patrols and checkpoints have become more common. One man in his twenties told the BBC he had been stopped at a checkpoint where officers searched his vehicle. He said he tried to avoid problems by speaking politely to the security forces. “I started saying things like ‘thanks for your hard work’ as if I appreciated what they were doing,” he said, adding that he was eventually allowed to continue his journey. Another resident, a woman also in her twenties, said she had changed the way she dresses because of increased patrols. “I always wear colourful clothes. But now I don’t,” she said, explaining she was worried about attracting attention from security forces. Internet shutdown limits communicationResidents also reported that internet access remains heavily restricted, making communication both inside and outside the country difficult. The shutdown has also limited the ability of protesters to organise demonstrations. Messaging platforms and encrypted apps are often used to coordinate rallies and share information about protest locations. Some people have tried to bypass the restrictions using satellite internet services such as Starlink. A man who said he sells secure internet connections described the risks involved. “What I do as a job is considered a crime in the Islamic Republic,” he said, recalling his anxiety when a taxi he was travelling in passed through a checkpoint while he was carrying his laptop and phone. Authorities target satellite internet useIranian authorities have warned that the use of satellite internet devices is illegal. According to the semi-official Mehr News Agency, police in Fars Province arrested a 37-year-old man accused of setting up a network that sold access to “unfiltered” internet using Starlink equipment. Officials said the devices were discovered during a search of the suspect’s property. Using Starlink in Iran can carry a prison sentence of up to two years. Despite the restrictions, some residents are still able to access the internet through unofficial connections. Listings seen by the BBC on the Telegram messaging app show that some providers are charging around $6 for one gigabyte of data, a high price in a country where monthly salaries are often estimated between $200 and $300. Warnings issued against protestsAuthorities have also issued warnings aimed at discouraging demonstrations. BBC Persian said it had seen a text message sent by the intelligence arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on 13 March cautioning residents against joining protests. The message warned that “the evil enemy” was seeking to create unrest in the streets. Police chief Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Radan also warned that anyone taking action in cities “at the behest of the enemy” would be treated as an adversary rather than a protester. Conflict raises fears of unrestLarge anti-government protests earlier in the year saw deadly clashes over two nights in January. So far, similar demonstrations have not reappeared during the current conflict. Instead, authorities have organised pro-government rallies and encouraged supporters of the Islamic Republic to take to the streets. Some residents told BBC Persian they had heard loudspeakers broadcasting pro-government chants and music in parts of Tehran at night, while groups carrying the national flag moved through neighbourhoods. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi defended the country’s restrictions in an interview with CBS, saying he was able to speak online because he was “the voice of all Iranians”. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently urged the Iranian public to challenge the country’s leadership, though he later said he could not say with certainty whether the government would be overthrown. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 15.March 2026
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