Iran says it has dismantled a separatist cell and arrested five terrorists for planning attacks in three provinces, while three militants have been arrested for arms smuggling.
Iranian security forces display handguns and magazines seized during an anti-arms-smuggling operation along the country’s western border, October 2026. (Photo via social media)
Iran’s Intelligence Ministry says it has dismantled a separatist cell and arrested five terrorists for planning attacks in three provinces, while three terrorists have been arrested for arms smuggling.
The ministry announced on Wednesday that five members of the “terrorist-separatist” group were arrested in a coordinated operation involving its offices in Kermanshah, Alborz and Tehran Provinces.
It described the arrests as part of the continuing “intelligence dominance and counterintelligence efforts” of its personnel against movements by “mercenaries and elements affiliated with the American-Zionist enemy.”
The ministry detailed how the five-member cell was preparing attacks in Tehran, Alborz and Kermanshah under the direction of individuals linked to US and Israeli spy agencies.
The suspects were identified and detained “following the receipt of public reports and intelligence surveillance” in the three provinces, it explained.
the ministry further noted that “the arrested terrorists, through their Daesh-like actions, played an important role in destroying public property and creating fear and panic in these provinces during the January riots.”
Separately, three members of an arms-smuggling team were arrested while attempting to enter Iran from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the ministry reported.
The authorities seized 50 handguns and 100 magazines from the team, which the ministry described as an operation to smuggle “arms and military ammunition for terrorist operations.”
The latest announcement adds to a series of security operations in the western provinces involving espionage, arms trafficking and suspected preparations for terrorist attacks.
On October 24, authorities announced the arrest of two individuals in Kermanshah Province over links to foreign espionage services.
The operation, carried out by Iran’s security forces and Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force commandos, resulted in the seizure of 10 Starlink devices, 10 AK-47 rifles and 5,200 rounds of ammunition.
On October 13, intelligence officers in Kermanshah Province arrested two terrorists entering from the Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
The operation yielded 109 firearms, 99 handguns and 10 Kalashnikov rifles, as well as 1,700 rounds of handgun ammunition and 198 magazines.
