Inside Iran's Crackdown: Security Measures Intensify Amid Protests

Mon Mar 16 2026 20:13:30 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

As tensions rise in Iran following recent protests, the government ramps up security measures, including checkpoints and internet restrictions, to prevent anti-establishment movements.

Iranian authorities are escalating security tactics to thwart potential anti-establishment protests in Tehran. Checkpoints have sprung up across the capital, and citizens are facing internet restrictions and mass warnings discouraging protests. Reportedly, various tactics are being used to navigate the tense atmosphere, with some residents opting for unconventional methods to avoid detection and maintain communication. The ongoing conflict has made coordination among protesters increasingly difficult, as internet access remains limited.

Iran is taking steps to prevent anti-establishment protests, with checkpoints appearing across the streets of the capital, internet access restricted, and mass text warnings sent to residents.

In Tehran, people have been telling the BBC about new security checkpoints around the city, where they say residents are stopped and searched. Some checkpoints are positioned under footbridges and inside road tunnels, after reports that several checkpoints had been targeted by drone strikes.

A number of Iranian security personnel were killed in Israeli strikes on four checkpoints across Tehran, as reported by the hardline Fars News Agency.

Since the war began, authorities have organized pro-establishment rallies and warned citizens against potential protests, following a bloody round of demonstrations in January 2026.

To further curb potential unrest, security forces have been monitoring communications by restricting internet access. Despite efforts to limit information flow, some tech-savvy residents have been utilizing SpaceX's Starlink to maintain connections with the outside world.

With these increasing restrictions, protesters face significant challenges in organizing and mobilizing, prompting fears of future unrest amid a tense and uncertain atmosphere in Iran.