Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Kill Six in Clashes in Restive Southeastern Province

TEHRAN (Terror Monitor) — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has killed six members of what authorities described as a “terrorist group” during an armed clash in Zahedan, the capital of southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iranian state media reported on Thursday, October 1.

The operation took place in the Manzelab area near Zahedan, a region that has frequently witnessed clashes between Iranian security forces and armed groups. The IRGC also reported seizing explosive devices during the operation, although authorities did not publicly identify the six people killed.

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, the security forces discovered and confiscated explosive materials during the confrontation. The initial report provided limited information about the identities of those killed, the group to which they allegedly belonged or the circumstances that led to the fighting.

Iranian state broadcaster Press TV, citing the public relations office of the IRGC’s Quds Base, reported that the group had allegedly been planning an attack in the area. The statement said the operation followed information received from local residents and intelligence surveillance.

Iranian authorities described the individuals as members of a “terrorist” cell but did not immediately provide independently verifiable evidence detailing the alleged attack plan.

Armed clashes reported near Zahedan

The human rights organisation Haalvsh, which monitors developments in Sistan and Baluchestan, reported that fighting between military and security forces and armed individuals began early Thursday morning.

According to a report published by Iran International citing Haalvsh, the confrontation continued for several hours in the Manzelab area, with heavy gunfire and rocket-propelled grenade fire reportedly heard during the clashes.

The identities and affiliations of the armed individuals involved were not immediately established by the rights group, and the initial reports did not independently verify the circumstances surrounding the six deaths announced by the IRGC.

The differing accounts highlight the limited information available from the scene. While Iranian authorities described the operation as an action against a terrorist cell, independent reporting has primarily focused on the armed confrontation and the subsequent announcement of casualties.

No detailed account of the operation, including the duration of the engagement or the identities of the people killed, was immediately available.

Sistan and Baluchestan: A longstanding security challenge

Sistan and Baluchestan is one of Iran’s southeastern provinces and shares borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan. Its capital, Zahedan, is a major urban centre near Iran’s eastern border region.

The province has experienced recurring armed violence involving Iranian security forces and a range of armed organisations, including Sunni militant groups and Baloch separatist organisations.

The region’s remote border areas and cross-border trafficking routes have complicated security operations. Drug smuggling is a longstanding challenge, while armed attacks against security personnel have periodically prompted major operations by Iranian forces.

Tehran has repeatedly accused certain armed groups of maintaining links with foreign powers and using cross-border networks to move weapons, personnel and illicit goods. Such allegations vary by group and incident and require evidence to establish the involvement of specific external actors.

The latest operation comes amid continued security pressure in the province, where clashes between government forces and armed groups have periodically resulted in casualties.

Separate explosion reported in Zahedan

Separately, Iran’s Fars news agency reported that an explosion was heard in Zahedan on Wednesday, September 30, citing the city’s administrative office.

According to the report, the explosion caused no damage. Authorities did not immediately establish a publicly confirmed connection between that incident and Thursday’s armed confrontation.

The two incidents occurred within a short period in a province where security forces remain engaged in operations against armed groups. However, the available reports do not establish that they were linked.

Investigation and outstanding questions

The IRGC has not publicly disclosed the identities of the six people killed or provided a detailed account of the evidence supporting its characterisation of the group.

Further information is also needed to establish whether the individuals belonged to a particular organisation, whether any security personnel were injured or killed, and what specific attack the authorities said had been planned.

Haalvsh’s reporting provides an additional account of the fighting, but the available information does not independently confirm all the details released by Iranian state media.

The incident underscores the continuing security challenges in Sistan and Baluchestan, where armed confrontations, cross-border trafficking and longstanding tensions have contributed to repeated clashes between government forces and armed groups.

The circumstances of Thursday’s operation, the identities of those killed and the alleged planned attack remain subject to further clarification.