Destruction of 'Five Terrorist Groups' Linked to 'Election Sabotage'

The Deputy Security Minister of Iran announced that 'several terrorist groups' had 'planned' to carry out 'sabotage' during the election period, and that 'five groups' of them have been destroyed in the last two months in the east, south, and southwest of the country. According to Fars News Agency, Hossein Zolfaqari, on Saturday, March 13, at a meeting with governors across the country, referred to the 'interrogation' of arrested individuals, stating that 'several terrorist groups attempted to carry out sabotage during the elections.' He added that 'in the last two months, five terrorist groups' have been 'destroyed' in the east, south, and southwest of the country. Mr. Zolfaqari did not provide further details about the activities and the method of arrest of these so-called 'terrorist' groups. The Deputy Security Minister had previously reported on Tuesday, February 15, without mentioning details, the arrest of 'individuals' in eastern Iran who, according to him, intended to 'disrupt' the elections. In the early days of March, he also reported the killing of two members of a team he described as 'terrorist' in the Somar region of Qasr-e Shirin. Subsequently, Iranian media reported, citing an unnamed 'security official,' that members of a 'terrorist group' were killed on the evening of Sunday, March 7, in a clash with Iranian security forces in Khuzestan province. This report did not mention the number of individuals in this group, their affiliation with a specific group or sect, or their objectives. Mahmoud Alavi, Iran's Minister of Intelligence, also announced on Sunday, March 1, the arrest of a 'terrorist operative' at the southeastern borders of the country and a four-member team at the western borders, who, according to him, intended to carry out 'terrorist' operations in Iran simultaneously with the elections. However, Mr. Alavi also did not refer to any specific name or group. In another part of his remarks, the Deputy Security Minister stated that 'this year, for the first time in the parliamentary elections, we did not have a single fatality, and conflicts and clashes decreased.' He added, 'In about 75 counties, there was a possibility of clashes and problems, which fortunately did not happen, and... it was less necessary to use police forces.' Mr. Zolfaqari said, 'During the holidays, the results of the elections approved by the Guardian Council may have consequences, so officials must take necessary precautions.' This security official, prior to the parliamentary elections on February 25, had mentioned the preparation of an 'election security atlas' and stated that four provinces of the country, encompassing 10 electoral districts, were classified as having a red security status. Regarding electoral conflicts, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, the spokesman for the judiciary, announced on February 14, without providing details, that apart from the case of a clash in Shush and a shooting 'in another county,' no other 'specific' cases of electoral conflicts had been reported. On January 23, clashes between supporters of two parliamentary candidates in 'Bahrām Town' in the Shush county of Khuzestan resulted in one death and two injuries. The 'Sobhe Zagros' website reported on February 8 that one of the parliamentary candidates, along with three of his supporters, was targeted by unknown individuals with a shotgun in the city of 'Gachsaran' in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province. Iranian media reported on December 17 that Hoshyar Maleki, a potential candidate for the elections in Khorramabad, had been murdered. In this context, the arrest of 'individuals' in eastern Iran on charges of 'intending to disrupt the elections' and an electoral conflict in Khuzestan that left one dead were reported. The Ministry of Interior rejected statements made by Hashemi regarding the 'arrest of three bombers.' The police announced that the murderer of a potential parliamentary candidate in Khorramabad had been arrested. The Minister of Interior reported a 'red security status' in 10 electoral districts.