Iran’s police chief, Ahmadreza Radan, claimed the regime’s security forces arrested more than 6,500 individuals accused of espionage since the war started at the end of February, according to Sunday reports from the Islamic Republic’s state media.
“The process of identifying and arresting elements linked to the enemy is ongoing, and police have not stopped their operations against those who have caused unrest,” Radan said, adding that none of those arrested during the January protests have been released.
Protests erupted across Iran in January in response to the country’s dire economic crisis. While the regime initially took an understanding tone toward the protests, it quickly began violently suppressing demonstrations. Human rights groups have claimed tens of thousands of protesters were killed by the regime’s security forces, though the regime has maintained that “foreign-backed rioters” killed 3,117 people.
Radan also claimed that the regime’s security forces had killed “166 armed and professional thieves” who were taking advantage of wartime conditions and who resisted arrest.
“This process is ongoing, and we promise our people that just as we are present on the battlefield, we will not abandon the field of public security and will remain by the people’s side,” Radan said.
Statement likely made to invoke fear
Roger Macmillan, a counterterrorism and security analyst, explained to The Jerusalem Post that the statement was likely made “to instill fear and to make people exceedingly worried about what they have on their phones.”
Iranians will likely now fear that any photos or content they have on their personal devices will be used as an excuse for the regime to arrest them, he explained.
“They can arrest you, and they will arrest you on that charge, charge you, and more than likely execute. There have been a number of executions already [and] this number is only going to increase as the Islamic Republic becomes even more concerned about its future or lack thereof,” Macmillan theorized. “This is just another repressive tool that they have to use against their people.”
