• Iran is escalating its internal security measures amid tensions with Israel.
• Over 700 individuals have been arrested on political or security charges since the start of the conflict.
• The crackdown particularly affects ethnic minorities, including Kurdish populations.
• Revolutionary Guard and Basij paramilitary forces have been placed on high alert.
• Checkpoint systems have intensified in Kurdish regions to enforce security.

Amid growing tensions with Israel, Iranian authorities are shifting their focus from external threats to a more aggressive internal crackdown, marked by mass arrests, executions, and military deployments. This heightened activity has been particularly pronounced in the Kurdish regions of Iran, where discontent has simmered for years due to the oppressive governance of the predominantly Shi'ite regime over Sunni Muslim Kurdish minorities. Reports indicate that since the conflict escalated after the Israeli airstrikes on June 13, Iranian security forces have launched a campaign that emphasizes internal security as their top priority, supported by extensive military mobilizations, particularly in sensitive areas along the borders with Iraq and Azerbaijan, according to Indiatimes, Reuters, and HuffPost.

Following the beginning of military operations, Iranian rights group HRNA has documented that over 700 individuals have been arrested on charges relating to political dissent and security. Echoing distressing reports from various sources, many of those detained have been accused of collaborating with Israeli agents, which the regime has used as a justification for such extreme measures. Furthermore, Iranian state media confirmed the execution of three Kurdish men near the Turkish border, responses that have drawn condemnation from Kurdish rights groups like Hengaw, highlighting the regime's specific targeting of ethnic minorities. Activists warn that there is a pervasive atmosphere of fear, as expressed by a Tehran-based rights activist: “We’re being extremely cautious right now because there’s a real concern the regime might use this situation as a pretext for further repression,” according to Indiatimes, Reuters, and HuffPost.

The Iranian government has reportedly placed Revolutionary Guard and Basij paramilitary units on high alert to counter perceived internal threats, which include not only ethnic separatist groups but also potential infiltration by displays of dissent from opposition elements. Along with expanded military presence, Iranian troops have been deployed to border areas with a focus on preventing what the regime characterizes as “terrorist” activities. Notably, Kurdish groups have reported an alarming rise in military operations within their communities, including widespread checkpoints and searches that disrupt daily life and quell any potential civil unrest. This illustrates the regime's preemptive strategy to stifle dissent, as further emphasized by comments from Ribaz Khalili of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), regarding the intensification of security in regions heavily populated by Kurds, according to Indiatimes, Reuters, and HuffPost.