Iran Imposes Tech Taboos Amid Escalating Cyber Espionage Fears
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a stern warning against the use of network-connected devices such as mobile phones, smartwatches, and laptops by its security personnel. The directive, released on the fifth day of ongoing Israeli attacks, is also extended to the general public, urging them to reduce their use of such devices.
According to reports, this move is not just a precautionary measure but also a reflection of growing fears over potential cyber intrusions inside Iran. Citing intelligence sources, international media outlets reported that this directive comes in the wake of recent arrests of alleged Israeli operatives within Iran. The tightened restrictions are part of heightened preparations to counter possible cyber warfare threats, according to Fars News.
Iranian parliamentarian Hamid Raisi echoed these concerns on social platform X, amplifying the sense of urgency.
On Monday, Iranian English-language news channel Press TV reported via its Telegram channel that Iran’s intelligence agencies had discovered specialized Spike missile launchers designed to target Iran’s air defense systems. The systems were said to be equipped with internet automation and remote-control capabilities.
Press TV claimed that these systems were operated by Mossad agents and not mounted on vehicles or drones. Instead, they were deployed on ground-based tripods and camouflaged using covers. The launchers featured electro-optical guidance systems, advanced cameras, and satellite communication antennas—enabling remote operation from afar.
Military affairs observer outlet The War Zone and other sources reported that Israel allegedly smuggled sensitive drone and missile components into Iran in small quantities, concealed inside trucks, commercial containers, and passenger suitcases passing through Iraq.
These components reportedly included electronic fuses, advanced electro-optical cameras, lithium batteries, lightweight engines, GPS-based guidance systems, and secure communication devices. The assembled parts were allegedly taken to secret Mossad bases across various Iranian regions to be turned into offensive weapon systems.
Iranian news agencies reported that Mossad operatives had established covert facilities in several parts of the country. One such location, a multi-story building near Tehran, was discovered and found to house a drone production and storage site, officials claimed.
According to Iran’s state television, a room in the building contained a drone, its propellers, various components, and control equipment placed on a table and shelves. A 3D printer was also found at the site—technology that has reportedly been used in Ukraine to produce drone components, The War Zone noted.
On June 16, a police spokesperson in Tehran announced that two Mossad-linked agents had been arrested in separate raids, and authorities seized over 200 kilograms of explosives, 23 drone components, missile launchers, control systems, and a Nissan vehicle.
In Isfahan, which hosts some of Iran’s most sensitive nuclear facilities, the deputy police commander led a raid on a suspected workshop storing a large cache of drones and micro-drone manufacturing equipment. Four individuals have been detained in connection with the incident.
A report suggested that the drones were being assembled using 3D printing and locally available hardware to reduce the need for smuggling large volumes of parts. This tactic, it is claimed, made the supply chain difficult for security agencies to detect. However, the claims have not been independently verified.
