Iran’s Revolutionary Guard responds to Hezbollah pager attacks with ban on communication devices
Iranian security officials reveal complete ban on all communication devices after deadly pager and walkie-talkie explosions.
Iranian security officials have shared details of the ban on all types of communication devices with the Revolutionary Guard Corps after two days of explosive devices targeting members of the Hezbollah terrorist group last week.
Two senior officials shared details of the ban with Reuters, citing fears of Israeli infiltration, particularly by Iranians paid by Israel, and that multiple investigations have been launched.
One operation is currently examining all electronic devices used by the Guard Corps, while another investigation focuses on senior and mid-level members.
“This includes scrutiny of their bank accounts both in Iran and abroad, as well as their and their families’ travel history,” an unnamed security official told Reuters overnight.
The official did not share how the Guard Corps currently communicates, but did say, “For now, we are using end-to-end encryption on messaging systems.”
According to Reuters, Iran is examining “several” of the devices that exploded.
A second official also told Reuters that protecting Iran’s nuclear and missile facilities was a priority, telling Reuters that “since last year, security measures at those sites have increased significantly.”
“Never have security measures as strict and extreme as those that exist now been implemented,” the official said.
Iran makes extensive use of domestic and foreign devices for its communications.
Iran’s move comes a week after thousands of pagers were exploded across Lebanon in an operation – presumably carried out by the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad – targeting members of Hezbollah. Two members of the terrorist organization were killed along with 10 civilians, while almost 3,000 people were injured. The attack took place on September 17.
The next day there was another wave of explosions; Only this time the devices were walkie-talkies. This attack killed about 30 people and injured 750.
While initial reports suggested that Israeli agents had somehow intercepted Hezbollah’s supply chain, reports from The New York Times suggests that the pagers were built by a company in Hungary; However, it is actually an Israeli shell company. The company, BAC Consulting, manufactured pagers for several other clients, but in the batch sent to Hezbollah, the batteries contained the explosive PETN.
These were later triggered by a message that supposedly came from senior Hezbollah leaders.
The attacks were widely condemned. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on September 18 that “civilian objects” should not be used as weapons of war.
“I think it’s very important that there is effective control of civilian assets, not turning them into weapons – that should be a rule that governments should be able to implement,” Guterres said.
