Iranian state media announced on Tuesday that authorities had detained 466 individuals for “online activities threatening national security.”
Iranian police officials stated that these arrests were carried out based on “intelligence and technical surveillance,” which allegedly indicated that these individuals were linked to “enemy” networks intending to destabilize Iran amid the ongoing conflict.
According to the state news agency IRNA, “These individuals sought to create confusion among the public, instill fear and anxiety within society, incite unrest, and disseminate propaganda beneficial to the enemy.”
Since the commencement of the war, Iran has nearly completely shut down internet access for its citizens. While some local networks remain operational, certain government-sanctioned platforms have also become inaccessible recently. Doug Madory, an Internet Analytics expert, mentioned that last week it was estimated that “about 99 percent of Iranians lack regular internet access.”
Additionally, hundreds of people have been arrested for various offenses, such as taking photos of sensitive sites or sharing “anti-government” material, as well as for “collaborating with the enemy.” However, details or evidence concerning these claims have been sparse.
Last week, Iran’s Ministry of Information reportedly took 97 individuals into custody, labeling them as “Israeli soldiers,” and local police also apprehended 41 people for relaying information to opposition news outlets and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) situated outside of Iran. It was also reported that over 100 members of a “monarchist network” were arrested.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) reported on Tuesday that seven journalists had been arrested in Iran “amid increasing pressure on independent media.”
The IFJ highlighted that following nationwide protests in January 2026 and a subsequent joint military operation against Iran by the U.S. and Israel, almost all independent media outlets in the country have either halted operations or can only publish state-sanctioned information.
In January, the Iranian regime reportedly killed thousands of civilians trying to crush significant protests. Some dissident Iranian officials suggest that the actual death toll could surpass 30,000, which is far greater than the number of deaths acknowledged by the government.
