Iran's Interior Ministry: Several Members of 'Counter-Revolutionary' Groups Have 'Surrendered'

The spokesperson for Iran's Interior Ministry stated that several members of what he referred to as 'counter-revolutionary and criminal' groups in the west and south of Iran, including the provinces of Kermanshah, Kurdistan, and Sistan and Baluchestan, have 'surrendered'. According to Fars News Agency, Hossein Ali Amiri said on Tuesday, March 25, that these individuals 'surrendered last week' but did not provide further details. Additionally, according to IRIB News Agency, Mr. Amiri considered this event as 'a new approach in the field of security' in Iran. Meanwhile, Ali Osoat Hashemi, the governor of Sistan and Baluchestan, announced on Tuesday, June 9, the formation of a 'safe conduct commission' in the province, stating that '12 individuals from the regime's opponents and deceived individuals have voluntarily obtained safe conduct'. Mahmoud Alavi, Iran's Minister of Intelligence, also mentioned on Tuesday, October 7, during a public session of the Islamic Consultative Assembly that his ministry had a meeting with the 'Council' of the Democratic and Komala parties. The next day, representatives of these two Kurdish parties in Iran denied this event in an interview with Radio Farda. According to ISNA News Agency, the spokesperson for the Interior Ministry further stated that 'the discovery of a safe house for criminals and the arrest of individuals who have been causing insecurity in Sistan for nearly a decade is a significant victory, especially since the tools at their disposal could have created problems, particularly on the eve of February 11'. Ali Osoat Hashemi, the governor of Sistan and Baluchestan, reported on the evening of February 10 that 'the elements responsible for the insecurities of the past eight years in this province have been arrested through the efforts of the police and other agencies.' According to Mr. Hashemi, the suspects have 'confessed' to several terrorist explosions in Zahedan, Chabahar, various assassinations across the province, bombings, roadside explosives, and other insecurities from 2007 to the present. Mahmoud Alavi, the Minister of Intelligence, also reported on Saturday, February 14, the 'destruction of several bases' of a group he described as 'terrorist' in the city of Saravan. In this context, a member of parliament stated that 200 kilograms of explosives were discovered in Saravan, the head of the judiciary in Ravansar, Kermanshah province was 'assassinated', and a school director in Saravan was shot dead.