Arrest of Four Individuals in Marivan Related to 'Sabotage Activities'

The Tasnim news agency, which is said to be close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reports that two members of a group described by the agency as 'terrorist' were arrested in Marivan city, Kurdistan province, along with 'two of their supporters,' in the last days of Shahrivar (September). This news agency announced on Tuesday, October 6, that a 'two-person terrorist team' that had entered Marivan from northern Iraq with the aim of carrying out 'terrorist activities' was arrested on September 26 and 28. According to the news agency, these two individuals were staying in a garden house on the outskirts of the village of 'Savaji' in Marivan and intended to begin their terrorist activities with the 'support' of two 'internal elements' of this group, but were arrested 'before taking any action.' The news agency reported that items such as 'three Kalashnikov rifles, a large number of bullets, and a night vision camera' were discovered from these individuals. According to Tasnim, the leader of this group was a person using the alias 'Shwan.' The news agency implicitly stated that these individuals were affiliated with the 'Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan' led by Mustafa Hijri and were simultaneously connected with the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK). The 'Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan' has not yet responded to this report. The party had previously announced its intention to resume its armed presence in Iranian Kurdistan and to initiate a new round of activities against the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, the party's website reported on October 3 that in a clash between its forces and the military forces of the Islamic Republic in the Piranshahr region, one of its members named 'Rahim Abdollahzadeh' and 'several' members of the Islamic Republic's forces were killed. Iranian officials and media have not published any reports regarding this clash. In recent months, several clashes have occurred between the forces of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and the IRGC in Kurdistan, resulting in 'dozens' of casualties on both sides. Among these, in a clash between the military forces of the Islamic Republic and members of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan on Tuesday, September 6, at least two members of this party were killed. Meanwhile, officials from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq emphasized in meetings with Iranian officials that they would not allow Kurdish opposition parties to create security challenges for the Islamic Republic from the territory of the Kurdistan Region. In recent months, the Islamic Republic has accused its Kurdish opposition parties of organizing armed activities to serve the goals of Saudi Arabia, an accusation that has been denied by these parties. In addition to recent clashes, Iranian Kurdistan has witnessed bloody confrontations between the military forces of the Islamic Republic and members of the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK) in recent years. These parties are accused by the Islamic Republic of 'separatism' and 'connections with foreigners.' These parties also accuse the Islamic Republic of violating the rights of Kurds in Iran and state that their goal is to 'pursue the rights' of Kurdish citizens 'within the framework of Iran.' In this context, the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan announced an increase in military presence in Iranian territory.