NOPO
NOPO (Nirouy-e Enteẓāmi-ye Vijeh, Special Units of Police) is Iran's special forces riot police unit, deployed for high-security and counterinsurgency operations.
Last refreshed: 29 March 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Why did Iran deploy its riot police to secure political prisoners instead of sheltering nine million civilians?
Latest on NOPO
- What is NOPO Iran?
- NOPO (Nirouy-e Entezami-ye Vijeh) is Iran's special forces riot police, part of the Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA). It handles crowd control, counterinsurgency and prison operations.
- What did NOPO do at Evin Prison?
- NOPO seized Evin Prison during the 2026 Iran conflict, forcibly transferring prisoners while detainees resisted. The operation coincided with the intelligence ministry emptying Ward 209 of its most sensitive political cases.
- Was NOPO involved in the Mahsa Amini protests?
- Yes. NOPO was deployed across dozens of Iranian cities during the 2022-23 Mahsa Amini protests, using lethal force against demonstrators. Multiple NOPO commanders were subsequently sanctioned by the US and EU.
Background
NOPO is Iran's special forces riot police, formally part of the Law Enforcement Command (FARAJA). The unit handles high-security operations including crowd control, counterinsurgency and prison seizures. It gained international notoriety during the 2022-23 Mahsa Amini protests for its role in violently suppressing demonstrations across dozens of Iranian cities.
NOPO seized Evin Prison during the 2026 conflict, forcibly transferring prisoners while detainees in multiple wards resisted . The operation coincided with the intelligence ministry's emptying of Ward 209 , suggesting coordinated action to secure high-value political detainees before Israel's bombardment of Tehran intensified.
NOPO's deployment to Evin rather than to civil defence reveals where the regime directs its coercive capacity under pressure. A unit trained for internal suppression was tasked with securing political prisoners while Tehran's nine million civilians had no organised shelter, evacuation or warning system. The choice underscored a regime that treats its own population as the primary threat, even under foreign bombardment.
