Iranian Brig.-Gen. Gholamreza Jalali, head of Iran's Passive Defense Organization, claimed that Israel and the United States were using surveillance cameras in Tehran to spy on Iranian citizens, Iranian media reported last week.
“The Zionist regime and the United States use all spy technologies, including tracking systems, cameras, artificial intelligence, satellites, and drones, and use these tools to collect information and carry out operations against us,” Jalali said.
He claimed Iranian officials had identified foreign code embedded in domestic laboratory systems, which covertly rerouted security camera footage to external servers. Jalali further asserted that a 2022 cyberattack on Khuzestan Steel began after hackers accessed the camera network, enabling them to penetrate the plant’s core infrastructure.
Following Jalali’s announcement, a senior member of Tehran’s city council called for tighter oversight of the capital’s surveillance systems. According to the Tehran-based outlet Didban, images from municipal cameras were transmitted abroad via a specific IP address.
The revelations have raised concerns about the integrity of Tehran’s monitoring infrastructure, as the city has experienced several targeted operations in recent months.
City Council member Mehdi Abbasi told Didban that the municipality had failed to properly regulate imported surveillance technology. He urged that equipment used in cyber and communication systems must undergo rigorous testing by Passive Defense Authorities before being authorized for use.
“We need to act very strictly regarding equipment imported from abroad, especially equipment that is used in the field of technology and communications and has a cyber approach and is active on the Internet,” Abbasi said.
“This equipment must be examined by passing through numerous filters to ensure the correctness of its operation.”
Focus on systemic vulnerabilities
Abbasi said authorities should focus on systemic vulnerabilities rather than on identifying individual culprits. He emphasized the need for comprehensive risk assessments, particularly concerning data security and foreign access.
He also called on the government to reduce reliance on foreign technology, noting that more than 1,300 cities in Iran rely on similar surveillance systems.
Domestically produced technology for city and traffic monitoring, he said, could improve security and reduce expenditures in foreign currency.
“If we are forced to use services from abroad, we need to be completely sure of the type, quality, and correct functioning of those services and ensure their safety,” Abbasi said. “After achieving this certainty, we can use those services.”