Iran's Ministry of Intelligence Reports Arrest of 27 ISIS Members

The Islamic Republic's Ministry of Intelligence has announced the arrest of "27 members" of the Islamic State group (ISIS) who intended to carry out "terrorist operations" in religious cities and "deep provinces" of Iran. In a statement released by the ministry, which was reported by the IRNA news agency on Tuesday, August 7, it was stated that the arrests were made "in cooperation with one of the regional intelligence services" and that a number of military weapons were discovered and seized from this "terrorist group." The Ministry of Intelligence did not specify the name of the regional security service involved. The statement indicated that the arrested individuals aimed to conduct operations in "deep provinces and religious cities of the country" and that "the terrorists attempted" to smuggle their weapons and ammunition "concealed within household items into the country." In this regard, 10 individuals were arrested at the group's leadership center across the borders, and 17 were arrested within the country. The Ministry of Intelligence did not mention the country where the 10 individuals were arrested. According to IRNA, "it was planned that five of the detainees would carry out operations inside the country, while the others would act as logistical and supportive elements for the group." Since the ISIS operation in Tehran on June 7, which involved an attack on the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini, Iranian security agencies have reported the arrest of dozens of ISIS members in various cities across Iran. The news of these arrests comes at a time when no details have been released regarding the identities and fates of those detained. In the attacks on the Assembly and the mausoleum, a total of 17 people were killed and 52 injured, and the attackers were also killed. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack by releasing a video of the attackers pledging allegiance to the group. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that in retaliation for these attacks, on the evening of June 18, they targeted "the command center and gathering and support centers for the Takfiri terrorists in Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria" with missiles. Iranian security operations continue as last week, the public prosecutor and revolutionary prosecutor of Kermanshah reported the discovery of 60 handguns in "Sarpol-e Zahab" and stated that the carriers of this shipment had fled to Iraq. In July of this year, the Kermanshah prosecutor also reported the arrest of over 50 "elements related to and supporting terrorist groups" in the province following the June 17 attacks in Tehran. Previously, Mahmoud Alavi, Iran's Minister of Intelligence, stated that the forces of this ministry "struck 30 terrorist teams intending to operate during events and in crowded places in 2016, and in 2014 and 2015, they dismantled about 45 terrorist teams, preventing any security threats from them and depriving them of the opportunity to act." The Islamic State has called for more attacks against Iranians several times in recent months.