Iran International and the HRANA news agency are reporting a sharp escalation in enforcement against businesses in Iran that don’t enforce hijab wearing: Over the past three weeks, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps regime has closed around 42 businesses—including cafes and restaurants, shops, women’s gyms, and more—for violating modesty rules.
1+Enforcement—Online Too
According to the report, this represents a marked escalation by the regime. In just three weeks, the number of closure orders issued to businesses reached 22% of all orders issued over the entire previous year. The enforcement crackdown wasn’t limited to one area but spread across at least 17 cities, including Tehran.
What’s more: According to the HRANA news agency, the enforcement escalation didn’t stop at business closures and extended to tightening police monitoring online. According to the report, between July 11 and August 1, the regime blocked around 72 pages and social media accounts and demanded that operators of 21 pages publish a statement committing to comply with religious regulations.
1+Escalation—At the Leadership Level Too
This comes against the backdrop of new appointments at the top of the regime. As our Senior Iran Analyst Dror Blazada reported, Mojtaba Khamenei—or someone acting on his behalf—refreshed a series of senior positions in recent weeks, including the chief of staff and commander of the Basij forces. According to Blazada, it’s worth noting that Khamenei didn’t appoint moderates but rather the most extreme figures.
Khamenei’s message is clear: Iran isn’t backing down and is even sharpening its tone toward its enemies, chief among them the United States and Israel. Will this strengthen Iran or accelerate the regime’s collapse? Time will tell.