By Smartencyclopedia Staff with Agencies *

In the past decade, Iran has witnessed a growing wave of internal dissent, fueled by economic hardships, political discontent, and the government’s foreign policies. Since the Green Movement of 2009, which was sparked by allegations of election fraud, more Iranians have openly opposed their government, challenging the regime’s legitimacy. Key grievances include state mismanagement of the economy, heavy investment in nuclear and military programs, and the regime’s controversial regional policies in countries like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Amid these growing tensions, the Iranian government has intensified its domestic espionage efforts, using state resources to surveil and control its population.

From External to Internal Focus: A Shift in Espionage Strategy

Historically, Iran’s intelligence apparatus, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Intelligence Services (MOIS), has been known for its offensive cyber operations and espionage campaigns targeting foreign nations. However, in response to rising internal unrest, the regime has redirected significant resources toward domestic surveillance. This shift in focus has resulted in widespread monitoring of activists, regime critics, and protesters, with a particular emphasis on controlling information and suppressing dissent.

To stifle uprisings, the regime has also implemented extreme measures, such as cutting off internet access during protests and engaging in lethal crackdowns on demonstrators. Hundreds of protesters have been killed in recent years as security forces sought to maintain control.

Leaked Documents: A Window into Iran’s Domestic Surveillance

In recent years, whistleblowers and activists have leaked sensitive information, revealing the Iranian government’s internal espionage tactics. One of the most prominent sources is the Lab Dookhtegan (translated as “stitched lips”) Telegram channel, along with activists such as Masoud Molavi, a former Iranian cybersecurity official who was assassinated by Iranian agents in 2019. Molavi’s Black Box Telegram channel was responsible for leaking substantial amounts of Iranian government data, offering a glimpse into the surveillance apparatus aimed at Iran’s citizens.

These leaks have exposed a variety of tools, tactics, and systems developed by the IRGC and MOIS to monitor and control domestic populations. Much of this work was conducted through the Rana Intelligent Computing Institute, an organization reportedly responsible for developing espionage tools for both domestic and foreign operations.

Tools and Techniques for Domestic Espionage

According to the leaked data, Iran has developed a sophisticated array of surveillance and espionage tools designed to track and control its citizens:

1. Abi Surveillance System: This system allegedly spies on political activists, human rights lawyers, and regime critics by intercepting Bluetooth communications. Reports indicate that the Abi system was installed on pickup trucks stationed near university campuses and protest hotspots, allowing the regime to track individuals participating in anti-government activities.
2. WinspySuite Malware: A remote access tool used by the regime to steal information from targeted individuals. According to reports, WinspySuite was deployed during interrogations or by sending malicious links via email, enabling the regime to monitor the personal data of dissidents.
3. Mobile Surveillance (Project 220): The regime developed remote access tools for both Android and iPhone devices, enabling it to steal sensitive data such as call logs, text messages, and geolocation data from victims’ mobile phones. This project, referred to as Project 220, was key to monitoring individuals considered threats to the regime.
4. Social Media Monitoring (Project 420/Dolphin): This malware was designed to track individuals’ social media activities, including their interactions on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram. By collecting data on social media interactions, the regime was able to profile individuals and their networks.
5. Data Analysis and Collection Platforms: Systems such as Payamak and Seraj were developed to analyze the vast amounts of data collected from surveillance activities. Payamak was specifically designed to analyze text messages from targeted individuals, while Seraj acted as a search engine for information on suspects, employees, and intelligence operations.
6. Religious and Ethnic Surveillance (Shojreh): This system was reportedly developed to map family relations of Jewish individuals living in Iran and abroad, demonstrating the regime’s focus on monitoring religious minorities.

Tactics Beyond Borders: Monitoring Iranians Abroad

Iran’s domestic espionage capabilities are not limited to activities within its borders. The regime has also employed tactics to monitor Iranian citizens living or traveling abroad. Whistleblower documents reveal that the Iranian government gained unauthorized access to the systems of various airline companies across the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Airlines in Bahrain, India, Malaysia, Qatar, and the UAE, among others, were reportedly compromised to track the movements of Iranian citizens.

In one instance, the regime reportedly attempted to hack the computer systems of hotels in Georgia, a popular destination for Iranian travelers, to collect information on individuals staying there. These actions illustrate the Iranian regime’s willingness to extend its surveillance beyond its borders, targeting Iranians living in diaspora or traveling abroad.

Conclusion: The Implications of Iran’s Domestic Espionage

While the leaked documents provide only a limited view of the full extent of Iran’s domestic espionage activities, they offer important insights into the regime’s priorities. The Iranian government’s response to internal dissent has been to invest heavily in sophisticated surveillance technologies and methods, illustrating the growing threat it perceives from within its population.

As economic pressures and social unrest continue to grow in Iran, likely, the regime will likely further expand its domestic surveillance capabilities. For Iranian citizens, this creates a pervasive atmosphere of fear, where individuals must assume they are under constant scrutiny by the state. The information exposed by whistleblowers like Lab Dookhtegan and Masoud Molavi provides a stark warning about the lengths to which the Iranian government will go to maintain control over its people, raising ethical concerns about the use of technology for domestic repression.

In the broader context of international relations, Iran’s domestic espionage activities highlight the challenges authoritarian regimes face in managing dissent. As more information is leaked and more Iranians risk their lives to expose the regime’s tactics, the pressure on the Iranian government to reform—both from within and from the international community—will likely continue to grow.

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