Iranian security forces have significantly increased their presence across Tehran and other major cities, deploying motorcycle patrols, checkpoints, and personnel at key locations as authorities prepare for potential unrest, according to multiple sources inside the country.
The security buildup coincides with the return of university students to the streets of Tehran, where protests have erupted over compulsory hijab rules, rising education costs, and political repression. Videos published by Iran International show students at Allameh Tabataba'i University demonstrating on Monday, chanting against the morality police and political repression.
Sources inside Iran confirmed that motorcycle units have been operating across Tehran and other cities during events surrounding Iran's annual «Sacred Defense Week,» while members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Basij, and law enforcement have been positioned at major squares and other locations. Security personnel have stopped pedestrians, searched some individuals, and examined mobile phones for material authorities consider «anti-regime.»
One source in Tehran described a security apparatus extending beyond what is visible on the streets. «Motorcyclists taking photos of shops, and prisoners being threatened and forced to tell their families not to physically participate in any protests that might arise,» the source said. Basij members who previously received military training have been placed on alert and are being housed or assembled at educational facilities and large properties on the outskirts of Tehran.
The measures are not limited to the capital. «This situation exists in all cities, but the nature of the presence and the way things are organized differ,» the source said, citing information from Borujen, Isfahan, and other cities. «In those places, plainclothes agents are more prevalent and try to remain out of public view; however, in Tehran, they appear openly on the streets in military uniforms and gear specifically to instill fear and terror.» Leave has also been canceled in smaller cities, and shops, telephone communications, and everyday activities are under increased surveillance.
Iranian journalist Mehdi Ghadimi, who lives outside Iran after years of opposition activity, told Fox News Digital he had received similar accounts. «I've received reports of new checkpoints being set up in Tehran, and there have also been reports of military forces being put on alert, as well as civilians who had previously been trained by the regime for urban repression being called up,» Ghadimi said. He added that people are being detained on espionage charges simply because they communicate with people outside of Iran. Ghadimi also said he had received reports that individuals with serious criminal records had been released from prison in exchange for reporting to local Basij bases and participating in the suppression of demonstrations.
The accounts follow a report from the National Council of Resistance of Iran's Committee on Security and Counterterrorism alleging that Iranian authorities ordered a «100%» state of readiness for the Army, IRGC, Basij, and law enforcement and canceled leave through Sept. 27. The NCRI also claimed 51,000 personnel had been deployed across Greater Tehran, including 30,000 IRGC and Basij members and 21,000 law enforcement personnel. Fox News Digital has not independently confirmed those claims.
The reported preparations are taking place as signs of public unrest resurface on university campuses. The protest at Allameh Tabataba'i University began over tuition, dormitory, and food costs before expanding into broader political chants, according to Iran International. The outlet, citing the student publication Amirkabir, reported that Basij members attempted to disrupt the gathering and threatened students.
The protests also come amid renewed pressure over compulsory hijab rules on university campuses. On Sept. 8, Iran International reported that a senior official in the office representing Iran's supreme leader at universities said a new compulsory-hijab directive for universities had been drafted and was expected to be issued by the ministries overseeing higher education.
Separately, the IRGC escalated its rhetoric toward Washington on Tuesday, with spokesman Hossein Mohebbi calling on Americans to pressure President Donald Trump's administration. «This lying administration must be changed,» Mohebbi said at a Tehran press conference, according to Reuters video distributed Sept. 29. His remarks came as US and Iranian officials continued indirect contacts through mediators in an effort to end the seven-month conflict, Reuters reported.
The combination of visible security preparations and renewed demonstrations is fueling speculation among Iranians about whether the country could face another broader wave of unrest. «The reality is that nobody knows what's going to happen,» Ghadimi said. «Everyone I talk to says that this situation cannot continue.»