In brief
In an effort to prevent widespread anti-establishment protests in response to ongoing unrest, Iran has activated numerous security checkpoints throughout Tehran, imposed internet restrictions, and dispatched mass text warnings to residents. Eyewitness accounts describe increased police presence and various strategies citizens are utilizing to cope with heightened security protocols. The government aims to suppress dissent following violent encounters resulting in the deaths of security personnel, while simultaneously calling for pro-establishment rallies.
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 in the middle of roads had been targeted by drone strikes.
A number of Iranian security personnel were killed in Israeli strikes on four checkpoints across Tehran, the hardline Fars News Agency reported on 11 March.
Fars said unofficial counts indicated that around 10 members of the security forces were killed in strikes in four districts of the capital.
Speaking to the BBC, a man in his twenties explained his strategy for getting through a checkpoint, where he said he was once stopped and his car was searched.
I started saying things like, 'Thanks for your hard work,' as if they were genuinely putting in a lot of effort and I appreciated it, he said.
Security forces let him go after the search.
I always wear colourful clothes. But now I don't, said a woman, also in her twenties. I'm scared of their patrols, worried that if I wear something too bright it might annoy them.
Restricted internet hinders co-ordination
Another man, also in his twenties, sells secure internet connections to some people, allowing them to bypass the government-imposed nationwide blackout.
It is still very difficult to contact those inside Iran during the internet outage that has been in place since the start of the war, but tech-savvy residents have been using SpaceX's Starlink devices and sharing their connection with others.
Restricting internet access not only restricts communication with the outside world, but also limits protesters' ability to mobilise, plan and communicate among each other.
Police have arrested a person in southern Fars Province over allegedly setting up a network to sell unfiltered internet via Starlink.
Using Starlink in Iran carries a punishment of up to two years in prison and authorities have reportedly been searching for Starlink dishes to stop people from connecting to the internet.
Meanwhile, government officials continue to warn and display a strong presence against any dissent, using text messages to discourage protests by invoking fear of severe consequences.
