Iran has launched video surveillance in several major cities to monitor compliance with its mandatory headscarf law, according to media reports on Tuesday.

The surveillance had been introduced in the capital Tehran, as well as major cities like Isfahan and Shiraz.

Women seen in public without the compulsory headscarf reportedly received warnings via text message.

It remains unclear which government agency or official authorised the expanded surveillance. In an interview with local media, Iran’s Vice President Zahra Behrouz pledged to investigate.

“We are working to clarify where these SMS messages originate, what their purpose is, and the legal basis for their issuance.

“The development comes as growing numbers of women in Iran’s urban centers openly ignore the Islamic dress code, often as a form of protest and a statement of self-determination,” she said.

This shift in public behaviour was spurred by the 2022 nationwide protests under the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom.”

Conservative hardliners regard the public defiance as a provocation.

While President Masoud Pezeshkian, who took office in mid-2024, had promised a more pragmatic approach to societal issues, he had not proposed repealing the mandatory headscarf law.

The headscarf requirement had been a core ideological element of the Islamic Republic for over four decades. A proposed reform to Iran’s penal code that could impact enforcement of such laws was currently stalled.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for “maximum restraint” from India and Pakistan.

While addressing newsmen at the Security Council in UN Headquarters in New York, he warned that escalating tensions over a recent deadly terror attack in Kashmir risk spiralling into military confrontation.

Guterres expressed deep concern over deteriorating relations between the two South Asian neighbours, saying they had reached “their highest in years”.

He reiterated his condemnation of the April 22 terror attack in the Pahalgam area of Jammu and Kashmir, which killed no fewer than 26 civilians and injured many more.

“Targeting civilians is unacceptable and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible and lawful means.

“It is also essential, especially at this critical hour, to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control,” Guterres said.

India and Pakistan both administer parts of Kashmir but claim the territory in full.

The Security Council was due to meet behind closed doors later to discuss the rising tensions between the two nations.

The UN chief offered his good offices to both governments to help de-escalate tensions and promote diplomacy, stressing that “a military solution is no solution.”

“Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink,” he said.

Guterres also praised both countries for their long-standing contributions to UN peacekeeping operations and expressed hope that their shared history of cooperation could form the basis for renewed dialogue.

“The United Nations stands ready to support any initiative that promotes de-escalation, diplomacy, and a renewed commitment to peace,” he said

The Israeli Air Force has attacked the international airport in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, according to Yemeni sources.

The Yemen’s Houthi militia, reported several attacks on Tuesday on the airport by Israel and the United States, as well as strikes on a nearby cement factory and a power plant.

The U.S. and Israel have not yet commented, but an Israeli military spokesman earlier called on “all those present in the area of the international airport” in Sanaa to leave the airport grounds immediately.

There are several residential areas around the airport.

Israel attacked dozens of Houthi targets in Yemen on Monday evening, killing at least four people and injuring 35, according to the Houthi-controlled Health Ministry.

The Israeli attacks followed a Houthi missile strike near the Ben Gurion International Airport outside Tel Aviv on Sunday.

The U.S. has been attacking Houthi targets in Yemen for months with the stated aim of protecting international shipping in the Red Sea.

Israel has also carried out several attacks in Yemen since the outbreak of the Gaza war, including a strike on the airport in Sanaa at the end of December.