Iran: IS militant arrested, suicide attack plan thwarted

Event

According to a statement by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on September 13, a suspected Islamic State (IS) militant has been arrested, thereby thwarting planned suicide attacks. The attacks were reportedly planned to occur during an upcoming Shi'a religious holiday. It is unclear when the arrest 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. Many arrests have since been carried out to apprehend suspected IS militants.

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 and report any suspicious activity or objects to the relevant authorities.