TEHRAN: Iranian intelligence authorities have successfully thwarted a plot by individuals linked to the Daesh group to target Tehran during the anniversary of last year’s protests, according to a statement from the intelligence ministry.
The protests had erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, who was arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s strict dress code for women and died in custody on September 16, 2022.
The ministry revealed that 28 individuals associated with the Daesh group had been arrested during simultaneous operations in Tehran, Alborz, and West Azerbaijan provinces. These individuals had affiliations with the extremist group and some had previous involvement with takfiris in Syria, as well as activity in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Kurdistan region of Iraq. In Iran, “takfiri” typically refers to proponents of radical Sunni Islam.
During the arrest operations, two security personnel were injured, and authorities seized various weapons, explosives, suicide vests, and communication devices. The intelligence ministry stated that the plot involved carrying out 30 simultaneous terrorist explosions in densely populated areas of Tehran, with the intent of undermining security and provoking riots and protests on the anniversary of the previous year’s demonstrations.
The protests in question, which spanned several months, resulted in numerous casualties, including the deaths of both civilians and security personnel. The Iranian government described them as “riots” instigated by foreign governments and “hostile media.”
Additionally, the statement noted that a Tajik Daesh member had recently been sentenced to death for his involvement in a deadly gun attack on a Shiite Muslim shrine, the Shah Cheragh mausoleum in Shiraz, which occurred last month. This incident followed a mass shooting at the same location less than a year prior, which was also claimed by the Daesh group.
