Iran's IRGC takes defensive step, bans devices after Hezbollah attacks

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has banned members from using communication devices after last week's deadly attacks in Lebanon targeted Hezbollah's walkie-talkies and pagers, Reuters reported.

In what appears to be a panicked response to close security gaps and preempt any further attacks or breaches, the IRGC has launched a large-scale investigation into its 190,000-strong force.

In an exclusive report, Reuters revealed that the IRGC is inspecting all devices used by its members, extending beyond just communication tools.

One senior Iranian security official, who spoke anonymously to Reuters, expressed Tehran's concerns about possible infiltration by Israeli agents, including Iranians working for Israel.

The Iranian official also noted widespread concern within Iran's ruling establishment. IRGC officials have reportedly reached out to Hezbollah for technical assessments, and several exploded devices have been sent to Tehran for examination by Iranian experts.

Last week’s attacks in Lebanon targeted Hezbollah’s walkie-talkies and pagers, triggering explosions that killed at least 39 people and injured over 3,000 across Hezbollah strongholds. Hezbollah and the Lebanese government accused Israel, though Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement.

The Iranian official also mentioned that most of the devices under scrutiny were either homemade or sourced from China and Russia.

According to the report, the thorough investigation focuses on mid- to high-ranking IRGC members. This includes a detailed review of their bank accounts, both domestic and international, as well as their travel histories and those of their families.

A person is carried on a stretcher outside American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) as people, including Hezbollah fighters and medics, were wounded and killed when the pagers they use to communicate exploded across Lebanon, according to a security source, in Beirut, Lebanon September 17, 2024.

For the time being, it is unclear how the IRGC, a powerful paramilitary force that controls much of Iran's economy and permeates practically all aspects of society, will manage communications.

According to the Reuters report, the IRGC’s communications have shifted to end-to-end encrypted messaging systems, with the Iranian official declining to provide further details.

Reza Taghipour, a former communications minister, told the IRGC-affiliated Javan newspaper on Thursday that the recent attacks in Lebanon highlight the need for Iran to rely on domestic technologies. He suggested that if foreign-made devices must be used, they should undergo rigorous physical, software, and electromagnetic tests to ensure cyber security.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Marandi, a regime insider and advisor to Iran's nuclear negotiation team during Ebrahim Raisi’s presidency, has warned Iranians through several tweets since Tuesday about the risks of purchasing electronic devices and high-tech products from Western, Taiwanese, Korean, or Japanese manufacturers.

The latest setback for one of Tehran's key proxies comes as the Islamic Republic faces growing pressure from its supporters to retaliate against Israel, particularly after the injury of its ambassador in Lebanon and the unresolved response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

That killing, in the heart of the Iranian capital, sparked speculations and warnings about serious flaws and “Israeli infiltration” in Iran's intelligence and security agencies. Although Israel has not claimed responsibility for Haniyeh’s assassination, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, holds Israel accountable and has vowed to avenge the killing.

Since at least 2010, it has been alleged that Israel conducted dozens of attacks inside Iran, targeting sensitive nuclear and military installations and carrying out assassinations of individuals deemed a threat.

These attacks escalated after a massive July 2020 explosion at the Natanz uranium enrichment site in central Iran, which destroyed a key building. In November, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, a prominent figure in Iran’s nuclear program and suspected architect of its covert weapons efforts, was assassinated in a roadside attack near Tehran.

Securing its nuclear and missile facilities, especially the underground sites, is Tehran's top priority today, according to one Iranian official who spoke to Reuters after the attacks in Lebanon.

However, he noted that security at those facilities had already been increased following what Iranian authorities described as an Israeli sabotage attempt on the country’s missile program in 2023. Israel has not commented on those claims.

"There has never, ever been such tight security and extreme measures in place as there are now," said the official, implying that the Hezbollah pager explosions in Lebanon have prompted further security tightening.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian visits one of the victims injured by pager explosions across Lebanon, in a hospital in Tehran, Iran, September 20, 2024.

The IRGC, established following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, holds substantial power in Iran, controlling a ground force, navy, and air force. It also operates the Quds Force, responsible for overseas operations and support for regional proxies, many of which are designated as terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine, the Houthis in Yemen, and various militias in Iraq. The group extends its influence across the Middle East by providing these terrorist groups with funds, weapons, and training, contributing to regional instability and violence.

Iran's military uses a range of encrypted communication devices, with many developed domestically to avoid reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly due to sanctions imposed on Tehran over its nuclear program. Although Iran has imported communication equipment from China, Russia, and Japan in the past, pagers have reportedly not been in use by the military for over two decades, the security source said.