Iran: IS militants arrested for allegedly plotting attacks

Event

According to a report released on August 7, 27 people were arrested by the Iranian police for allegedly planning attacks for the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS). Five of the detainees were reportedly set to carry out attacks within Iran. Iranian authorities claim that ten of the suspects were arrested outside the country for attempting to smuggle weapons and ammunition into Iran inside home appliances. It is unclear when the arrests occurred.

Context

Following the twin terrorist attacks on June 7 that killed 18 people in Tehran, Iran has deployed new security measures to improve its anti-terror operations. Dozens of suspects, allegedly linked to the attacks, have since been arrested.

IS has repeatedly threatened to carry out attacks in Iran, a Shi’a-Muslim majority country, as it refuses to recognize the sect as a legitimate interpretation of Islam.

Advice

Individuals in Iran are advised to remain vigilant, report any suspicious activity or objects to the relevant authorities, and avoid discussing sensitive political topics in public.