Iranian security forces have launched a wave of mass arrests across the country in an apparent effort to prevent a resurgence of nationwide protests, according to witnesses, activists and officials cited Thursday by Reuters.
The arrests follow weeks of heavy repression that crushed large demonstrations under a near-total internet blackout. Witnesses told Reuters that security forces, many operating in civilian clothing, have been detaining people indiscriminately in Tehran and other cities, with detainees often taken to undisclosed locations.
“They are arresting everyone,” said one protest activist, adding that those detained are being held in unofficial facilities. “No one knows where they are being taken. They are trying to spread fear among the public.”
Five protest activists, along with doctors, lawyers and two officials inside Iran, said the sweeping arrests are aimed at preventing the protests from being reignited. According to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 42,486 people have been arrested since the demonstrations began. Two Iranian officials acknowledged that thousands of arrests have been carried out in recent days.
One activist said the campaign is not limited to those involved in the current protest wave, which erupted about a month ago, but also targets people who participated in demonstrations years earlier. Family members of activists are also being detained, the activist said.
Iranian officials admitted that some detainees are being held in unofficial sites, including warehouses and improvised facilities. Protests have continued sporadically across the country, from small towns to the capital.
A resident of northwestern Iran told Reuters that her brother and cousin were arrested during a nighttime raid. “They stormed the house in civilian clothes, seized computers and phones and warned us not to speak — or they would arrest all of us,” she said.
Doctors also reported being targeted. Five physicians said injured protesters were in some cases taken from hospitals directly into detention. Medical staff were summoned by authorities and warned not to provide treatment. “They are taking everyone,” one doctor said.
Three Iranian lawyers said dozens of families have sought legal help after relatives were detained, including minors under the age of 18. Families said the uncertainty over the fate of detainees has become a form of punishment in itself.
“We don’t know where they are, whether they are alive or if we will ever see them again,” said a father whose daughter was arrested. “They took her as if she were a terrorist. My child protested because she wants a better life, like other young people.”
The crackdown comes amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly raised the possibility of military action against Iran, including strikes aimed at encouraging protesters to return to the streets.
Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said Tehran does not seek war but warned it would respond forcefully if attacked. He added that Iran is willing to enter negotiations but only with guarantees that it would not be struck during talks.
Separately, Iran’s military leadership condemned the European Union’s decision to designate the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, calling it “hostile and provocative.” In a statement, the general staff said responsibility for the consequences rests with European leaders and accused them of acting to appease Washington and Jerusalem.
European officials have said the designation is largely symbolic, noting that the Revolutionary Guard is already subject to extensive sanctions, including asset freezes and funding bans. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar welcomed the move, saying it would criminalize the Guard’s activities in Europe, deal an economic blow to an organization that controls a large share of Iran’s economy, and send a message of support to Iranians demanding freedom.