Iran tightens internal security grip at home as war conditions with the US linger

Iranian authorities have intensified internal security controls across the country, with the strongest pressure reported in Tehran. The measures include arrests, executions, closure of public gathering spaces and tighter enforcement by religious morality police. The crackdown comes as diplomatic efforts to end the United States-Israel war on Iran remain uncertain.

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The supporting material says security forces and morality police have increased restrictions over the last few weeks, targeting people and businesses judged non-compliant with rules the state describes as immoral or un-Islamic. It also says compulsory hijab enforcement has been stepped up, alongside business closures and pressure on students, lawyers and others. Officials have framed the response as part of an effort to strengthen the internal front and preserve unity in the face of foreign aggression.

The state security apparatus has also combined executions with arrests, asset seizures, internet and media controls, according to the report. Heavily armed security forces and pro-establishment voices have been kept on the streets of Tehran and other cities at night to maintain a visible state presence. International rights groups have raised concerns about the scale of the measures and their impact on daily life.

The crackdown matters because it appears to link domestic control with the wider wartime environment and the uncertainty around diplomacy. In that setting, the authorities are not only responding to external pressure but also trying to limit dissent, public assembly and informal criticism at home. That combination can deepen fear among civilians while narrowing the space for political debate and social activity.

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The report also places the current measures in the context of the anti-establishment nationwide protests in January, which the authorities say were a coup attempt orchestrated by the United States and Israel. During those protests, the government said thousands were killed and many more were arrested and executed. President Masoud Pezeshkian described those events as bitter and unforgettable in a televised interview released on Wednesday night.

Pezeshkian also accused US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of orchestrating protests across multiple Iranian cities to destabilise the Islamic Republic. The authorities have said armed agents linked to the CIA and Mossad were present among protesters and were trying to escalate violence, attack government offices and damage public property. The report also says former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo posted that Mossad agents were involved in the protests.

The current campaign suggests that internal security, morality enforcement and wartime messaging are being used together as part of a broader state strategy. By tightening controls on public behaviour and political expression, the authorities appear to be seeking to prevent unrest from spreading while reinforcing loyalty to the government. The focus on Tehran is significant because the capital is both the political centre and a key barometer of public sentiment.

What remains unclear is how far the crackdown will extend, whether the reported measures will intensify further, and how they will affect the prospects for diplomacy. The supporting material does not give a full nationwide count for the latest arrests, closures or executions, and it is not clear how many people have been directly affected in each category. The next developments to watch are any official announcements, changes in enforcement on the streets, and whether talks over the war and sanctions environment produce any easing of pressure.