Iran Reports the Death of Two Members of a 'Terrorist Group' and Arrest of Five Others

Iran says that in a clash between the police and the Ministry of Intelligence with a group known as 'Ansar al-Furqan', five people were arrested and two were killed. Iranian news agencies reported that this clash occurred on Wednesday evening, June 14, in Chabahar. According to the report, one member of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence was also killed and another was injured in this clash. Mahmoud Alavi, Iran's Minister of Intelligence, stated that the deceased member was 'from Gilan'. According to Fars News Agency, Alavi added that among the 'terrorists of today', five were Iranian and two were from neighboring countries. He officially identified Saudi Arabia as a supporter of these groups, stating: 'We have news indicating that they hire mercenaries from neighboring countries to create insecurity in Iran.' A day before these statements, Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Islamic Republic's Foreign Minister, also said at the Oslo Forum in Norway that Iran has information that Saudi Arabia supports 'terrorists' near Iran's borders. According to IRNA, the Minister of Intelligence added: 'Their failure had caused some doubts, so much so that they said the Ministry of Intelligence is fabricating cases, but is it fabrication when someone from Tunisia came to carry out an explosion? Are those who wanted to carry out explosions in Kurdistan and Qom considered fabrication? They are in Evin; come talk to them.' The judiciary-affiliated news agency Mizan reported that from the individuals arrested in the Chabahar clash, seven explosive vests and a large quantity of ammunition were discovered. According to this news agency, the suspects intended to carry out operations during the 'Nights of Qadr'. The nights of the 19th, 21st, and 23rd of Ramadan are referred to as 'Nights of Qadr' in Iran. The state broadcaster IRIB also reported that a 'terrorist group' has been identified in Kurdistan province, although no further information has been released on this matter. According to published reports, the group 'Ansar al-Furqan' is a Sunni jihadist group operating in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Reuters reported that this group had previously threatened to carry out suicide attacks in retaliation for the execution of Sunni prisoners. In a video published by some Iranian news agencies from the clash on Wednesday, a street can be seen where a group of people has gathered, and gunfire can be heard. It appears that a citizen-journalist captured this amateur footage. The clash on Wednesday evening occurred two days after another clash between Iranian police and armed individuals in the Rudan county of Hormozgan province, which left four dead. The Iranian police stated that in the clash with 'armed outlaws', the ISIS flag was also discovered along with other equipment. Following the attacks on June 6 at the Imam Khomeini Mausoleum and the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Iran has reported an increase in security measures and widespread arrests of individuals suspected of connections to the Islamic State or ISIS. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the attacks in Tehran and has threatened to launch more operations against Iran. In this context, the Ministry of Intelligence reported the arrest of '41 ISIS members' in various provinces. The police chief reported the arrest of 'a terrorist team' around Tehran. Alavi stated that the planner of the Tehran attacks was killed with the help of cooperating intelligence services. The Iranian police reported the killing of 'four armed outlaws' affiliated with ISIS. Note: A reflection on the 'terrorist' incident in Tehran; where are Tehran-Riyadh relations heading? The commander of the IRGC described the Tehran attacks as a 'demand' from Saudi Arabia to the terrorists. Zarif: We have information that Saudi Arabia supports terrorists near Iran's borders.