IRGC commander, 2 others martyred in confrontations in Zahedan, Iran

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Oct 2022 12:45
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The IRGC says Friday's armed terrorist attack on security forces in the city of Zahedan left 3 martyred and 32 others injured.

IRGC officers (Archive)

The IRGC announced that Friday's armed terrorist attack on security forces in the city of Zahedan in the Sistan and Baluchestan province left three martyrs and 32 others injured.

According to the IRGC's public relation department of the Force of the Southeast, Commander Hamid-Reza Hashemi, the deputy head of the information department of the Salman branch of IRGC in Sistan and Baluchestan province, along with Mohammad-Amin Azarshokr and Mohammad-Amin Arefi, was martyred in a terrorist raid on military forces.

In a separate incident, Iranian media reported Friday the martyrdom of Colonel Seyed Ali Mousavi, the chief commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in Sistan and Baluchestan province.

According to Tasnim Agency, Mousavi was shot in the chest by gunmen and taken to the hospital, but later succumbed to his injuries.

After the eruption of riots in Zahedan on Friday morning, a crowd of anti-revolution elements gathered near the Makki Mosque and started to fire shots.

The security forces were immediately deployed to the scene, but the commander of the IRGC intelligence department of Sistan and Balouchestan, Seyed Ali Mousavi, was shot in the chest and taken to the hospital, a statement said.

Earlier, the governor of Sistan and Baluchestan province, Hossein Modarres Khyabani, announced that 19 people were killed and 20 others wounded in an attack on a police station in the city of Zahedan, southeast of Iran.

According to Khyabani, some rioters affiliated with terrorist and separatist groups attacked security forces on Friday, pointing out that the rioters attempted to take control of a police station and set fire to public properties, including banks, stores, and governmental centers.

Iranian news agency IRNA cited an informed security source as saying that two elements of a terrorist group were killed in the Friday clash.

The source explained that the two terrorists tried to provoke people to destroy public properties and kill civilians and security forces.

Judge in Saravan survives an assassination attempt: Iran

Earlier, Saeed Tjalili, governor of Saravan, said that an investigative judge in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan, southeast of Iran, survived an assassination attempt Friday evening by unknown assailants.

According to Tjalili, judge Mahdi Fani Khalilabad was subjected to an assassination attempt by unknown assailants, but fortunately survived it, adding that the investigation into the incident is underway.

Recently, simulated demonstrations and riots in Iran killed and injured security forces and civilians. On the other hand, massive pro-government rallies took place across the country.

The demonstrators expressed their dissatisfaction with the riots, condemned the actions of the rioters, and called on law enforcement and the judiciary to take decisive measures against the vandals.

Tehran Public Prosecutor Ali Salehi said that "security and stability are the priority of the judicial authorities, and whoever wants to undermine national security will be dealt with decisively."

Riots supported by foreign entities, culprits to be prosecuted: Iran

On Friday, the Council of Experts of the Leadership of Iran condemned the "recent riots and the desecration of sanctities" and stressed that the troublemakers will be prosecuted at the Judicial level.

"The bitter and seditious events that we have witnessed in recent days, although they were aborted, have once again provided an excuse to deprive the society of security and stability, and offend religious sanctities," the Council said in a statement.

"The desecration of the Quran, the burning of mosques, damage to private and public property, or attacks against internal security forces, popular mobilization forces (Basij) and security guards in an Islamic country where people believe in religious principles cannot occur without the planning and guidance if foreign entities that exploit the feelings of youth," the statement added.

The statement continued, "The Council of experts of the leadership in Iran, by insisting on the application of Islamic laws and provisions in society and its full support for the leader of the Islamic Revolution and the progressive principle of Wilayat al-Faqih as a concrete pillar of the Islamic Republic, emphasizes the need to clarify and present the correct narrative of recent issues (events), organize the virtual space (social media misinformation) as well as provide console to those affected and grant them their rights."

"The Council also emphasizes the need to support the actions of the Judiciary in prosecuting the rioters, the need to be vigilant and thwart the hateful plots of the hegemonic regime and world Zionism against the Iranian Islamic Revolution."

Riot leaders in Zanjan province arrested by Iran's security forces

In the same context, the deputy governor for security affairs in Zanjan, Abolfazer Rafiei, was cited by Tasnim Agency on Friday announcing that "all main leaders of the protests in Zanjan have been arrested, and many of them were not the residents of the province," stating that the legal process against the detainees over damaging private and public property was launched.

On Thursday, the governor of Tehran, Mohsen Mansouri, announced that the riots have been put to an end, and Tehran has been witnessing calm and security for several nights.