Iran claims to take out Israel-US terrorist cell in Sistan, Baluchistan Province

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Saturday announced that security forces thwarted the activities of a terrorist cell that it claimed was linked to Israel and the United States and operated in Sistan and Baluchistan Province in southeastern Iran.

According to the IRGC statement, one member of the cell was killed and six other suspects, including members and supporters of the group, were arrested.

In a statement issued by the public relations office of the Quds Base of the IRGC Ground Forces, it was claimed that the cell was located shortly after its members entered the area and that they intended to carry out acts of sabotage and attacks against preselected targets in the southern part of the province.

The operation against the cell was carried out jointly by the IRGC, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry, and the Sistan and Baluchistan provincial police. According to Iranian authorities, the identification of the group’s members was made possible through prolonged intelligence monitoring.

During the operation, one suspect was killed, and six others were arrested before they were able, according to Tehran, to carry out their planned activities.

Iranian security forces claimed that during searches, they seized 20 packages containing explosives and equipment related to the preparation of explosive devices. They also said they found small and medium caliber weapons, a large quantity of ammunition, and communications equipment based on the Starlink satellite system.

The IRGC statement claimed that the group was connected to the “Israeli regime” and the “American terrorist regime,” according to the wording of the Iranian announcement. It further claimed that the cell members planned to carry out a series of attacks in the province as part of an operation coordinated with the United States, but were arrested before they could execute their plans.

The IRGC warned individuals it claimed were operating on behalf of Israel and the United States against attempting further activity in the region. The statement said that the security of Sistan and Baluchistan residents constitutes a “red line,” and that Iranian security forces would not allow hostile elements to enter the province or operate there.

The claims regarding Israeli and American involvement are based on the IRGC statement, and no independent evidence verifying them was presented in the report.