Tehran, June 18 – In a series of swift and significant developments, Iran has banned the use of all communication devices by government officials and their bodyguards, even as the country grapples with ongoing Israeli airstrikes that have shaken both its security apparatus and civilian life. The directive, reported by the semi-official Fars News Agency on Tuesday, includes mobile phones, smartwatches, and laptops. While Iranian authorities have not officially elaborated on the decision, it is widely understood as a preemptive measure against electronic tracking — a suspected tool in Israel’s targeted strikes that have severely undermined Iran’s military leadership.
Reports from The Associated Press suggest the strikes have had grave consequences. An Afghan shopkeeper residing in Tehran described a city besieged by fear. “Sirens blare every few hours,” he said, declining to be named for fear of government reprisal. “Markets are shut, food is scarce — especially bread. The police do not allow us to go outside or leave the city. I am in a war zone.”
Iran, long wary of foreign surveillance, now faces direct hits to its critical infrastructure. According to the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Israeli strikes have had “direct impacts” on the underground centrifuge halls of Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility — a first in the watchdog’s assessments. While earlier reports confirmed the destruction of above-ground installations and electrical equipment, this fresh admission points to a deeper vulnerability in Iran’s nuclear programme.
In the wake of the aerial bombardment, the humanitarian situation is also worsening. Iranian pilgrims returning from the annual Hajj pilgrimage found themselves stranded due to the near shutdown of airspace across the region. As AP reports, around 100 pilgrims took the arduous overland journey from Saudi Arabia to Iraq and are now awaiting passage through the Mehran border crossing.
“This war came in and it was not in our hands,” said Aziz Mohammed Khan, one of the stranded pilgrims. “They told us we’ll stay here for two hours, then we’ll be sent back to Iran.” The group has taken shelter in Karbala, waiting under the summer sun near buses as authorities coordinate their return.
Meanwhile, Bank Sepah — Iran’s oldest financial institution — was hit by what appears to be a cyberattack, disrupting its online services. The Fars agency warned that this may affect gasoline distribution in certain regions, adding further pressure on a nation already under siege.
Notably, Narges Mohammadi, Iran’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate and one of the country’s most vocal rights activists, signalled via social media platform X that she had left Tehran amidst the conflict. On temporary leave from Evin Prison, where she had been serving a 13-year sentence, Mohammadi wrote, “I left home… I know millions are fleeing death and destruction. Let’s be each other’s refuge.”
With tension mounting, Russia has announced evacuation efforts for its nationals in Iran. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the Russian embassy in Tehran was working “around the clock” to help citizens exit through the Azerbaijan border. “We are very grateful to Azerbaijan,” he said, while lamenting what he termed a “galloping escalation” in the Middle East. Moscow’s call for mediation has reportedly received no response from Israel.
As Tehran’s streets fall silent and official communications go dark, the broader question of regional stability looms large. With no indication of de-escalation in sight, Iran’s attempts to safeguard sovereignty — digital or territorial — appear increasingly under siege.
(Inputs from agencies)
The Chenab Times News Desk