Ministry of Intelligence Reports New Arrests Related to Street Protests

The Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic announced in a statement that it has identified and arrested several individuals in connection with the recent street protests in Iran. According to the statement, some of these individuals were arrested in Sardasht, Varamin, Izeh, and Fars province. The Ministry of Intelligence stated that in Sardasht, it had 'identified and dismantled' a 'terrorist team' that had entered the country from the western borders, seizing 'three Kalashnikov rifles and a large amount of military equipment' from the detainees. The statement also mentioned the arrest of an individual identified by the initials 'M-Q,' who was described as the 'seller of 147 explosive detonators and 40 explosives in Varamin.' The arrest of three individuals in Fars province and the discovery of 'a large amount of equipment for making Molotov cocktails and strongly worded and extremist statements addressed to various ethnic groups for carrying out armed actions against the regime' were other parts of this statement. The Ministry of Intelligence also reported the arrest of the 'operational core of the rioters in Izeh and the arrest of suspect M-S, who intended to set fire to the home of one of the officials' in this city. This ministry, like other officials of the Islamic Republic, refers to the recent street protests in various cities of Iran as 'chaos and unrest,' adding that during a search of this individual's home in Izeh, 'a quantity of weapons and materials for making explosives were discovered and seized.' The arrest of several 'damagers of religious centers, public and private property' and the identification of 'a team house and the arrest of three individuals connected to one of the anti-revolutionary groups based in Europe that were involved in making explosive materials including Molotov cocktails' were also among the recent actions of the Ministry of Intelligence. The statement further noted that a 'previously known troublemaker' identified by the initials 'H-M,' who was 'one of the main agents of the unrest and responsible for the preparation and distribution of various cold weapons, pepper spray, and other destructive tools for the rioters' and 'played a significant role in escalating the violent atmosphere of the protests' has also been arrested. The Ministry of Intelligence also reported the arrest of several 'inciters and provocateurs encouraging people to participate in the riots in cyberspace in some provinces' and 'those sending images of the chaos and unrest to anti-revolutionary media abroad through cyberspace.' Almost all official figures of the Islamic Republic have attributed the recent protests in Iran to 'enemies' and external forces. The United States, Israel, Britain, and Saudi Arabia are among the countries alleged to have 'provoked' the protesters and intended to 'strike' at the Islamic Republic. In these protests, which left at least 25 dead, according to Mahmoud Sadqi, a member of parliament, 3,700 people have been arrested, some of whom are students. The Minister of Science: The number of arrested students has been 130. The Minister of Science, Research, and Technology announced that the total number of arrested students across the country is 130, adding that 'of this number, about 15 to 20 are still in custody.' Mansour Gholami said on Wednesday, on the sidelines of a government meeting, that based on 'conversations with the Ministers of Intelligence and Interior and according to the President's directive, students who have been in custody so far will be released in the coming days.' While he stated that the number of remaining students in prisons across the country is '15 to 20,' the cultural deputy of Tehran University says, '23 students from Tehran University are still in custody.' According to Majid Sarsangi, the number of released students from Tehran University is '18.' Following the recent protests in Iran, 52 Iranian professors from universities abroad issued a statement protesting the detention of dozens of students and calling for their unconditional release. The signatories of this statement described the actions of the Ministry of Intelligence under Hassan Rouhani's government in detaining these students as akin to 'kidnapping' and labeled it 'illegal.' 37 student organizations have also written a letter to Mansour Gholami, the Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, demanding the follow-up of the situation of detained students and their unconditional release. In related developments, families of prisoners protested in front of Evin Prison against widespread arrests. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution supporting the protesters in Iran. Amnesty International called for an immediate investigation into cases of 'suicide' in Iranian prisons. The head of the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff stated that the deaths in the recent protests are largely suspicious. The internet in Iran has been cut off for over 300 hours; reports indicate evidence of the deaths of injured individuals under treatment.