Iranian authorities have escalated an internal security crackdown, conducting mass arrests and executions across the country, particularly in Kurdish regions, according to officials and activists. The crackdown began shortly after Israeli airstrikes targeted Revolutionary Guards and internal security forces on 13 June.
The Iranian rights group HRNA reported 705 arrests on political or security charges since the start of the war. Many detainees face accusations of spying for Israel. State media confirmed three executions in Urmia, near the Turkish border, with the Kurdish rights group Hengaw identifying the victims as Kurdish.
A senior Iranian security official stated that internal security is now the primary focus, with Revolutionary Guard and Basij units on alert. Authorities are concerned about potential unrest, particularly from Israeli agents, ethnic separatists, and the exiled opposition group MEK. Troops have been deployed to borders with Pakistan, Iraq, and Azerbaijan to prevent infiltration.
In Kurdish provinces, Revolutionary Guards have set up checkpoints, conducted house-to-house searches, and deployed in schools. Kurdish opposition groups reported over 500 members detained since the airstrikes began. A Tehran activist, jailed during 2022 protests, noted dozens of people summoned and either arrested or warned against dissent.
Iran's foreign and interior ministries did not respond to requests for comment. The crackdown reflects longstanding tensions with Kurdish and Baluch minorities, who oppose rule from Tehran's Persian-speaking, Shi'ite government.
