Member of Parliament Reports on 'Widespread Deployment' of Plainclothes Forces in Tehran

Mahmoud Sadeghi, a member of Parliament from Tehran, reported the 'widespread dispatch of police forces and deployment of plainclothes agents' in Tehran. On Tuesday, May 15, he raised the question on his Twitter account: 'What is the purpose of the extensive deployment of police forces in plainclothes to Tehran?' He wondered if this was related to the meeting of Ebrahim Raisi, the conservative presidential candidate, or if it was aimed at 'creating conflict and tension.' Raisi's electoral gathering took place on Tuesday at Tehran's Mosalla, with conservative media reporting attendance of between 200,000 to 300,000 people. Sadeghi warned that one must remain vigilant, quoting 'eyewitnesses' who reported that the plainclothes agents stationed around Baharestan stated: 'We want to suppress the Green Fitna.' However, the following day, he tweeted that 'according to relevant authorities, recent security measures were to prevent and counter potential sabotage threats and were not related to the elections.' Sadeghi did not clarify if this tweet was connected to his earlier tweets. Meanwhile, recent reports indicate a militarization of streets in major cities, including Tehran. Additionally, Sadeghi had previously criticized the support of some members of the Guardian Council for Ebrahim Raisi in a letter to Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, the Secretary of the Guardian Council. He noted that some jurists from the Guardian Council personally attended Raisi's campaign events, while others expressed support as members of the Qom Seminary Teachers Society. He urged the Guardian Council members to maintain their neutrality. In this context, Hassan Rouhani, on Tuesday, indirectly referred to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij Organization as supporters of Raisi during this election cycle, claiming they provide 'rich food' in barracks to support him. This accusation came after Ali Saidi, the representative of the Supreme Leader in the IRGC, stated last week that this military institution has never interfered in any elections and will not do so in the future. According to Mehr News Agency, Saidi reiterated the IRGC's non-interference in elections, stating that the IRGC only communicates the criteria for its members during elections. The Iranian President also mentioned for the second time that Raisi's supporters are organized and brought to his electoral gathering by 'bus.' In response, Ebrahim Raisi, during a speech in Bushehr, expressed surprise that Rouhani does not want to hear 'the people's voice.' Some websites and channels associated with Raisi and conservatives published images of some of Rouhani's campaign gatherings in various cities, claiming that current President's supporters were also brought to these gatherings by 'bus.' Rouhani, on Wednesday, May 16, at an electoral meeting in Ardabil, urged people not to react if his picture is torn, acknowledging that this is difficult for his supporters. He added: 'If they insult me in front of Rouhani's headquarters, do not respond because they have other goals; they have lost.' Rouhani stated that the election day (Friday) will end, and Saturday will come, addressing some of his rivals: 'How will we bring soap and water to wash your face on Saturday?' This presidential candidate emphasized the necessity of public participation at the ballot boxes and criticized some policies on state radio and television, stating: 'Everyone must come to the ballot boxes to reform the media... and free the national media from this gang.' Rouhani and Raisi are scheduled to hold their final electoral speeches simultaneously in Mashhad on Thursday. Meanwhile, some social media users reported on Wednesday the arrest of several individuals in Tajrish Square by plainclothes forces. This news has not yet been confirmed by official sources.