Ceasefire Ends the Fighting — But Triggers Internal Turmoil

The 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which erupted following Israel’s airstrikes on June 13, left behind a trail of damage—on both physical infrastructure and national psyche. Israeli strikes, aimed at Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, internal security agencies, and nuclear facilities, intensified regional tensions and raised hopes among some foreign observers and Iranian dissidents for internal political change.

But instead of sparking a widespread uprising, the war’s aftermath has seen Iran double down on internal security, unleashing a sweeping crackdown across the country. This response has been swift and ruthless—marked by mass arrests, executions, military deployments, and surveillance operations, especially in Iran’s volatile Kurdish regions.

Military Shifts from External Threat to Internal Control

Almost immediately after the ceasefire, Revolutionary Guard and Basij paramilitary units were redeployed—not for border defense but to control unrest at home. Senior Iranian officials told reporters the regime’s primary concern now was preventing domestic rebellion, particularly from ethnic separatists, Israeli agents, and the exiled People's Mujahideen Organisation—a group long opposed to the regime.

With checkpoints mushrooming across urban centers, street patrols increasing, and hundreds detained, Iran’s streets are showing clear signs of a government on edge. A senior security source confirmed that internal stability is now the government's top priority.

The Kurdish Region Bears the Brunt

The brunt of this crackdown has fallen on Iran’s Kurdish regions, historically home to Sunni minorities and separatist movements. Armed forces have reportedly been deployed in Kermanshah, Sanandaj, and other Kurdish towns, taking up positions even in schools and public institutions.

According to the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), Revolutionary Guard units have gone door-to-door searching for weapons and suspects, while also securing strategic locations like industrial zones and closing key roads to civilians.

Ribaz Khalili of the KDPI claimed that within days of the Israeli assault, Iranian forces were not only reinforcing military bases but also using civilian areas as operational staging grounds.

The Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK) reported that over 500 individuals associated with opposition movements had been detained in the Kurdish region alone. Activists accused the regime of leveraging the external conflict as a cover to suppress internal dissent, particularly in minority-dominated areas.

Executions and Mass Arrests Send a Chilling Message

The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRNA) reported that 705 people had been arrested on political or security charges since the war began. Many of these arrests carry accusations of espionage for Israel—a charge frequently used by Tehran to silence opposition.

Three people were executed near the Turkish border in Urmia, according to Iranian state media. Rights groups identified all three as ethnic Kurds, adding weight to concerns that the Kurdish population is being disproportionately targeted in this crackdown.

Meanwhile, activists and civil society members are lying low, fearing surveillance, detention, or worse. “We’re being extremely cautious right now,” said one Tehran-based rights activist, “because there’s a real concern the regime might use this situation as a pretext to permanently silence us.”

Border Militarization Reflects Regime's Paranoia

Iran’s response has not been limited to domestic policing. Troops have been deployed to borders with Pakistan, Iraq, and Azerbaijan, reflecting fears of cross-border infiltration by militant groups and foreign agents. Officials claim this is necessary to prevent what they term “terrorist activity,” though critics argue it’s more about projecting strength in a moment of vulnerability.

Iran’s Interior and Foreign Ministries have declined to comment on the actions, leaving civil society and the international community to rely on reports from opposition groups, activists, and anonymous officials.

From War Without to War Within

Iran’s shift from foreign confrontation to internal suppression is telling. The regime has survived the external pressure of an Israeli military campaign—but it now appears gripped by deep paranoia about internal dissent. Instead of addressing the root causes of unrest, the government has turned to repression, executions, and fear tactics, especially targeting ethnic minorities and dissenting voices.

This moment may not have produced the political rupture some in the West hoped for, but it has revealed how brittle the Islamic Republic perceives its own hold on power. In the face of growing external threats and internal frustration, Iran’s instinct remains authoritarian control—not reform. Whether this strategy ensures stability or seeds future resistance remains an open—and dangerous—question.

(With agency inputs)