Conflicting Reports on the Arrest of 'All Involved' in the Chabahar Suicide Attack

Continuing the contradictory information regarding the investigation of the Chabahar suicide attack, the deputy commander of the Iranian police announced on Thursday, December 13, that 'almost' all those involved in the Chabahar suicide attack have been arrested. This police official mentioned the arrest of '12 individuals' in connection with this suicide attack, stating that 'almost all domestic factors' related to this incident have been apprehended. In an 'exclusive' report by the Tasnim news agency, close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, there is no further information regarding the number and identity of the detainees from this official's statements. He also noted that 'we have heard' that some of the suspects in this attack have been arrested by 'other organizations.' Previously, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, had reported the identification and arrest of 'the majority' of the perpetrators of the suicide bombing in Chabahar, but did not specify the exact number or identity of these individuals. On Thursday, December 6, following a 'massive' explosion of a car bomb at the entrance of the police headquarters in Chabahar, Sistan and Baluchestan province, two people were killed and over 40 were injured. The Islamic Republic attributes this attack, which occurred two months after an attack on a parade in Ahvaz, to 'foreign terrorists,' and some news agencies reported that the group 'Ansar al-Furqan,' which has split from 'Jundallah,' claimed responsibility for this explosion. Ayoub Soleimani, the deputy commander of the police force, stated on Thursday regarding this matter: 'The number of suspects arrested in connection with the Chabahar terrorist incident has reached 12; almost all domestic factors related to this terrorist incident have been arrested, and a very good job has been done in this regard.' According to him, 'technical control and police actions to arrest the foreign elements of this terrorist incident are also ongoing.' This police official did not provide details but mentioned, 'We have heard that some other organizations have also arrested suspicious individuals and are investigating, and more details should be announced by these organizations themselves.' He did not name these organizations, but it seems he was referring to the Ministry of Intelligence and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. On December 8, Hossein Ashtari, the commander of the Islamic Republic's police, also reported the arrest of ten individuals in connection with the suicide attack in Chabahar, stating: 'Good leads have been obtained from this incident... and several other individuals related to the Chabahar incident will also be identified and arrested in due time.' Some officials of the Islamic Republic have implicitly attributed the Chabahar attack to Saudi Arabia. Mahmoud Alavi, Iran's Minister of Intelligence, also stated that 'regional security services and the policies and strategies' of Israel were involved in this incident. The port and free zone of Chabahar is located 645 kilometers south of Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan province, and India is responsible for the 'management and development' of this port. The Indian Foreign Ministry also condemned the attack shortly after it occurred, calling it 'terrorist.' Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh also emphasized the importance of the Chabahar free port, stating: 'Chabahar is an area that the Islamic Republic of Iran has special plans for its development, and it has even been emphasized in the Sixth Development Plan that Chabahar should become a special region. In terms of sanctions, the U.S. has excluded Chabahar from the sanctions game.' He further explained the purpose of the suicide attack in this city: 'The terrorist act in Chabahar was aimed at making this region appear insecure.'