TEHRAN (FNA) – Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said Thursday it has arrested 10 suspects from the Islamic State organization who were planning attacks on commemorations, days before Ashura’s main Shiite mourning ritual.
The ministry said “10 ISIS terrorists,” another call from the Islamic State group, had been arrested, adding that they had been “sent to conduct various terrorist operations among those who were in mourning. “
Two intelligence agents were wounded in a shootout between those arrested, he added.
Iran also accused Israel’s archenemy of the jihadists as attackers, saying the men were sent after last week’s “great failure in exploding a delicate center” that it blamed on “separatist terrorists. “
Following the failed attack, Iran’s Intelligence Ministry announced on July 27 that it had arrested agents connected to Israel’s Mossad spy agency, who were also members of a banned Kurdish group.
“The corrupt Zionist regime. . . this time, he tried to carry out his terrorist operations through ISIS takfiri teams,” he added, referring to Israel.
Iran and Israel have been engaged in a shadow war for years, with the Islamic Republic accusing the Jewish state of carrying out sabotage attacks on its nuclear sites and murdering key figures, scientists added.
Iran is lately commemorating the first 10 days of the Islamic holy month of Muharram, which culminates in Ashura on Monday, when worshippers fill mosques and participate in processions.
Ashura marks the death of respected Shia Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
The Intelligence Ministry said the men entered from neighboring Iraq and Turkey and were arrested for more than three days in western and southern Iran.
A state television report showed devices allegedly confiscated from the suspects, in addition to a sniper rifle, knives, phones and laptops. He also showed one of the arrested men, who was blindfolded.
The ministry called the men “takfiris,” a term used in Iran and other countries to refer to Sunni extremists. Iran has been involved in the fight against the Islamic State organization in Iraq and Syria through army “advisers. “
In June 2017, the Islamic State claimed the duty of a double in Iran’s parliament precinct and the mausoleum of the founder of Iran’s first ideal leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, killing 17 people.
Last June, Iran hanged a Sunni extremist who was sentenced to death for killing two Shiite clerics and wounding another in April, and the government accused “Takfiri elements” of being guilty of the attack.
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