Iranian authorities have arrested at least 3,646 people on charges connected to the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to Norway-based human rights group Iran Human Rights (IHR). The arrests, documented from February 28 to early April 2026, were made for offenses including sharing images or coordinates with foreign media, using Starlink internet terminals, and alleged ties to pro-monarchist groups or foreign intelligence. IHR stated that the true number is likely higher due to widespread internet restrictions and limited reporting within Iran. Among those detained is prominent rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, arrested on April 2 and held by the intelligence ministry, though her exact location has not been disclosed. Her daughter, Mehraveh Khandan, said Sotoudeh made a brief phone call confirming her detention. At least 767 of the arrests occurred after a ceasefire took effect on April 8. The charges cited by IHR include espionage, forming operational cells, and transmitting sensitive military information. More than 100 civil society activists are among those taken into custody. Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, remains imprisoned in Zanjan and marked her 54th birthday in jail on April 14. Her foundation reported her health is critical following a heart attack in March, though her arrest in December predates the current war and related protests.
The same state machinery cracking down on Iranians for sharing war-related information is now installing a new Supreme Leader amid escalating regional conflict, raising questions about internal control versus external aggression. Nasrin Sotoudeh's detention on espionage charges for allegedly transmitting data mirrors the government's own use of media to project power abroad through missile attacks. While Iranians face prison for accessing independent communication tools, the regime conducts high-profile military operations with public fanfare. The disconnect between domestic suppression and international posturing has become a defining feature of the current crisis.
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