Attempt to Strengthen Internal Unity After Israeli Airstrikes
At Least Six Executed... Concerns Over Shrinking Civil Liberties
Although hostilities with Israel ceased after 12 days, internal tensions in Iran remain high. The Iranian government is working to strengthen regime unity by setting up checkpoints throughout the country and intensifying internal security crackdowns.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 27th (local time) that "Iranian authorities have arrested hundreds of people on espionage charges and are increasing surveillance and inspections of citizens." Police are randomly checking citizens' mobile phones and laptops in major cities such as Tehran, while intelligence agencies have distributed instructions urging residents to report any suspicious behavior by their neighbors.
On the 22nd, when the United States used military force to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, attendees including Iranian residents in Korea held a rally near Jongno-gu, Seoul, urging a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Photo by Yonhap News
According to the WSJ, Iran has executed at least six people so far, and Amnesty International stated that more than 1,000 people have been detained in the past two weeks.
These measures are believed to be a response to Israel's attacks reaching deep inside Iran. Israel directly struck a residential area for high-ranking officials in northern Tehran, exposing vulnerabilities in Iran's air defense network. Mohammad Amin-Nejad, Iran's ambassador to France, said, "Israel attempted to infiltrate by recruiting personnel inside Iran."
The international community has expressed concern that the Iranian government's response is excessive. Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning dissident human rights activist, pointed out, "The war is over, but the situation for Iranians is more dangerous than before the war."
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