IRAN’S IRGC BANS COMMUNICATION DEVICES FOLLOWING PAGER AND WALKIE-TALKIE STRIKE ON HEZBOLLAH

Mon 23 September 2024:

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.

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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.

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.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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