Iran's Minister of Intelligence: A Plot to Explode in a Crowded Area of the Country Was Foiled

Mahmoud Alavi, Iran's Minister of Intelligence, announced on Tuesday, April 31, that a plot by "terrorists" to carry out an explosion in one of the country's crowded areas has been thwarted. Speaking in the city of Damghan, Alavi referred to what he called the "neutralization of enemy plots" by Iran's intelligence forces, stating: "In recent days, the terrorists' conspiracy for an explosion in one of the country's populated centers has been foiled." The Iranian Minister of Intelligence added: "The existing security is in a situation where enemies are making every effort to destabilize our country, but their plots are being neutralized by intelligence forces." Alavi did not provide further details regarding this matter, and it is unclear which city or region he refers to as one of the "populated centers of the country." Meanwhile, on Sunday, April 29, he reported the identification and arrest of a "terrorist" in western Iran who intended to carry out an "explosive operation." According to Mahmoud Alavi, this individual was arrested on Friday, April 27, "in an intelligence and operational action." The Minister of Intelligence stated that the arrested individual was "tasked by terrorist groups" and that "the neutralization of this terrorist operation prevented the sinister goals of certain countries in the region." Alavi did not mention the identity of this individual or the exact location of their arrest, nor did he specify which of the regional countries supported this "terrorist agent." Over the past year, with the onset of conflicts in Iraq, Iranian officials have repeatedly reported the identification and arrest of "terrorist" elements in the western part of the country. Iranian officials have not yet provided evidence or documentation regarding the arrested individuals or the operations that were supposed to take place. According to reports, the responsibility for securing the common border areas between Iran and Iraq lies with the army. Ahmadreza Pourdastan, the commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces, reported on April 24 that "a group" of Islamic State (ISIS) forces had entered Iran in the previous year and that the Islamic Republic's forces had eliminated two of them who were carrying "explosive vests."