Iran's Minister of Intelligence: Over 30 Terrorists Arrested

Mahmoud Alavi, the Minister of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic, announced on Tuesday the arrest of "more than 30 individuals linked to terrorism" in various parts of Iran, including the western provinces of the country. According to the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA), Mr. Alavi stated in a press conference on Tuesday morning, November 9, that over ten of these individuals were arrested in the provinces of Golestan, Mazandaran, Tehran, and Sistan and Baluchestan, while more than 20 others were detained in the "west" of Iran. The Minister of Intelligence explained that those arrested in western Iran were "engaged in activities aimed at Syria and Iraq." Mr. Alavi added that individuals arrested in Golestan, Mazandaran, Tehran, and Sistan and Baluchestan were also "looking to carry out terrorist operations in some provinces, forcibly taking vehicles from individuals and killing them, all of whom were identified and arrested, thus thwarting the operations they intended to carry out." The Iranian Minister's remarks about the arrest of over 20 individuals in western provinces, who were "engaged in activities aimed at Syria and Iraq," came a day after Turkey announced that its security forces had detained 38 foreign nationals, including three Iranians, on suspicion of attempting to join the Islamic State group or ISIS. Mahmoud Alavi also reported the arrest of "elements and the thwarting of a terrorist team in Susangerd," stating: "This terrorist team, which attacked the governor's office and several police stations, was identified and its members were arrested, and it was revealed that they were supported by reactionary countries in the region." Previously, the Intelligence Department of Khuzestan Province had reported the arrest of "all elements involved in the shooting incident" at a Hosseiniyeh in Safiabad Dezful, stating that this "incident was organized and directed by a foreign country." The Minister of Intelligence also referred to this incident, saying: "In a very short time, 14 individuals involved in this terrorist incident, eight of whom were the main assailants, were arrested and handed over to the judiciary."