Iran's IRGC bans communications equipment after series of walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon

Reuters quoted two senior Iranian security officials as saying that in addition to banning communications equipment, the IRGC had also launched a large-scale operation to check all other tools. One of the officials said most of the equipment was homemade or imported.

Medical staff treat an injured person after a pager explosion in Beirut, Lebanon on September 17, 2024

According to the official, Tehran is now concerned about the infiltration of Israeli spies, including Iranians planted and paid by Israel. Therefore, Iran is launching a comprehensive personnel investigation, focusing on mid- and high-ranking members of the IRGC.

"This includes a thorough review of the officials' bank accounts both in Iran and abroad, as well as their travel history and that of their families," an Iranian security official was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Security officials declined to provide details on how IRGC forces communicate with each other. One official said the IRGC now uses end-to-end encryption in its messaging systems to ensure security, adding that the Iranian armed forces have not used pagers for more than two decades.

PETN-laced batteries cause walkie-talkie explosions in Lebanon?

The official also said Tehran has developed a military- grade radio system through its defense industry to avoid dependence on foreign imports. Iran has previously imported communications equipment from China, Russia and Japan.

Iran's main concern today is protecting its nuclear and missile facilities, especially underground ones. However, security measures at those sites have been significantly stepped up since last year. "There has never been such tight and extreme security measures as there are now," Reuters quoted an Iranian official as saying.

IRGC officials also contacted Hezbollah in Lebanon for technical evaluation. Some components of the explosive device were sent to Iran for study by Iranian experts.

The Iranian government has not yet responded to the above information.

A series of explosions of walkie-talkies and pagers in Lebanon on September 17-18 killed at least 37 people and injured more than 3,000 others. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council on September 20, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib warned that no one in the world would be safe after the explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies in the country, calling the series of explosions of communication devices a "terrorist attack".

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/irgc-iran-cam-thiet-bi-lien-lac-sau-loat-vu-no-bo-dam-o-li-bang-185240923153315839.htm