Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have ordered members to cease using communication devices following deadly explosions of thousands of walkie-talkies and radios used by Lebanon’s Hezbollah last week, two senior Iranian officials told Reuters.
The elite military corps has launched a sweeping operation to inspect all devices, amid concerns of possible infiltration by Israeli agents, according to a security official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“Most of these devices were either manufactured in Iran or imported from China and Russia,” the official said, adding that the investigation extends to personnel bank accounts and travel histories, focusing on middle and high-ranking Guards officials.
The attacks in Lebanon last Tuesday and Wednesday, which Hezbollah and Lebanon blame on Israel, killed 39 people and injured over 3,000. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied involvement.
An Iranian official, who also requested anonymity, said the Guards are currently relying on encrypted messaging systems for communication. He noted that while the Iranian army uses various encrypted communication devices, including radios, it discontinued the use of walkie-talkies over two decades ago.
Tehran has reportedly sought information from Hezbollah and is examining samples of the exploded devices sent to Iranian specialists.
Another Iranian official emphasised that Tehran’s primary concern is safeguarding its nuclear and missile facilities, particularly underground sites. “Security measures at these facilities have been significantly enhanced since last year,” he said, referring to Iran’s accusations against Israel of attempted sabotage of its missile programme in 2023.
Israel has not commented on these allegations.
The Revolutionary Guards, numbering approximately 190,000 members, form the elite corps of the Iranian military.
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