Iran's Interior Ministry Denies Rezaei's Claims About ISIS Operations in Iran

Three days after the statements made by Mohsen Rezaei, the Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran, regarding the Islamic State's (ISIS) intention to carry out suicide operations during Friday prayers in Tehran, the Ministry of Interior denied this news. Hossein Zolfaqari, the Deputy for Security and Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Interior, told reporters on Saturday, October 1, that 'there may have been such cases in the distant past, but we have no new reports in this regard.' He added, 'Takfiri groups have made significant efforts to carry out sabotage operations in the country, but through a series of operations by intelligence and security forces, all their actions have failed.' Mohsen Rezaei stated on Wednesday, September 27, that a terrorist team from ISIS had recently entered Iran and intended to carry out a suicide operation at Tehran University coinciding with Friday prayers. According to Fars News Agency, Rezaei said, 'These individuals, who were supposed to be equipped with bombs in Tehran, were arrested by security forces and the Revolutionary Guards on the way between Hamadan and Kurdistan.' He further emphasized the necessity of maintaining Iran's authority to protect security in the country. In recent months, Iranian officials have reported several arrests of ISIS members or individuals intending to join the group. For instance, Mahmoud Alavi, Iran's Minister of Intelligence, announced on August 27 that hundreds of young Iranians intending to join ISIS had been identified by security forces, preventing their joining. Earlier, Iranian security officials also reported clashes between intelligence, security, and law enforcement forces with teams affiliated with ISIS in Kermanshah province, stating that four ISIS affiliates were killed and six others arrested during these clashes. In this context, the governor of Semnan announced that several ISIS members have been arrested in Semnan province.