Iran Claims Arrest Of 28 Linked To ISIS, Foiling Terror Attacks

Iran's ministry of intelligence announced Sunday that it had apprehended 28 individuals affiliated with an alleged ISIS terrorist network who were planning bombings.

The ministry claimed that the arrests prevented a plot involving "30 simultaneous terrorist bombings" in densely populated areas of Tehran, with the intended objective of “destabilizing national security.”

According to the ministry's statement, the detainees have a documented history of having spent time in Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraqi Kurdistan, where they purportedly received training and support for their activities.

The arrests were reported to have taken place in recent days across various regions, including Tehran, Alborz, and West Azerbaijan provinces. However, specific details regarding the precise timing of the arrests have not been revealed.

The Iranian regime has a history of periodically claiming the apprehension of individuals linked to terrorism, espionage, or sabotage activities, often citing affiliations with entities such as Israeli intelligence agencies or ISIS. However, detailed information, public court appearances, or comprehensive trial updates pertaining to these detainees are notably rare. Consequently, verification of such claims remains challenging.

Furthermore, the ministry of intelligence highlighted that during a raid on one of the suspects' safehouses, an attempted "suicide operation" was thwarted, resulting in injuries to two members of the ministry's personnel.

The ministry has not released any photographs or official documents to substantiate its claims regarding the arrests and the thwarted plot.

The announcement follows the Iranian government's attribution of two previous armed attacks to ISIS—one in October 2022 and another in August—both of which targeted the Shah Cheragh Shrine in Shiraz.