Ceasefire without relief: How Iranians are grappling with post-war repression
Despite the ceasefire, pressure is mounting inside Iran: arrests are rising, the internet remains largely shut down, and millions face deep economic uncertainty.
TEHRAN — The 14-day ceasefire between Iran and the United States has paused active fighting, but inside Iran, any sense of relief remains limited. The government has intensified its security crackdown even as economic pressures worsen — two forces that are likely to shape what comes next for ordinary Iranians.
Within hours of the ceasefire taking effect, Iranian authorities intensified a wave of arrests across multiple provinces. Since the truce was announced, security and intelligence agencies have detained dozens of people accused of espionage, ties to foreign media or cooperation with what officials describe as “hostile” actors.
The arrests spanned several provinces, including Khuzestan, Mazandaran, Gilan, Lorestan and Hormozgan. In some cases, detainees were accused of sharing images with foreign outlets — in others, of alleged involvement in planned attacks or ties to opposition-linked platforms. Authorities also reported seizing large quantities of weapons — including assault rifles and ammunition — claiming many were of US origin and intended for internal use.
The scale of these operations reflects a long-standing concern among activists: Periods of external conflict tend to heighten the Islamic Republic’s sensitivity to perceived internal threats.
