Arrest of 'Individuals' in Eastern Iran on Charges of 'Disrupting Elections'

Hosseini Zolfaqari, the Deputy Minister of Security and Law Enforcement of the Islamic Republic, announced the arrest of 'individuals' in eastern Iran by security and intelligence agencies. According to him, these individuals intended to 'disrupt' the elections. On Tuesday, February 15, Zolfaqari also stated that these individuals were arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Ministry of Intelligence, and the police of Iran. This senior official of the Ministry of Interior mentioned that the detainees 'explicitly stated in interrogations that they intended to take actions.' Zolfaqari did not refer to the number and identity of the arrested individuals, the exact location of their detention, or details of their objectives. This is the first time this year that news of the arrest of an individual or individuals by the security forces of the Islamic Republic has been published in connection with the elections of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Assembly of Experts scheduled for March 1. Intelligence, security, and law enforcement agencies have long announced their readiness to hold the elections on March 1 and will confront any form of 'insecurity' and attempts to create 'disruption' in the elections. In this context, Hossein Ashtari, the police commander, also warned on Tuesday about 'self-styled groups or movements that intend to disrupt the order of the elections.' Ashtari warned that 'we will not allow any party or movement to act contrary to the law during the election process' and that those who 'take a path contrary to the law will be dealt with severely.' According to statistics provided by Mohammad Hossein Moqimi, the head of the country’s election headquarters, 'one million people in two executive and supervisory areas' will cooperate with this headquarters for the elections on March 1. Meanwhile, police officials have also announced that 'to ensure the security of these elections,' 250,000 police forces will be organized and deployed across the country. In addition, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has also announced its readiness to ensure the security of the elections in some provinces along with the provincial Basij Organization. For years, the forces of the IRGC and Basij have been tasked with ensuring the security of events such as elections alongside the police. However, as some media, political movements, and activists in Iran have repeatedly complained and criticized, the IRGC and Basij forces have intervened in the political and electoral sphere in favor of certain candidates. In this election period, which will be held in about ten days, announcements have been issued by the IRGC and Basij in favor of some candidates in several provinces, but these organizations have denied issuing such announcements.