The Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran has announced the arrest of the leader of an Ahwazi “separatist” group in Isfahan Province.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 15 April, the Ministry claimed that this group was involved in targeting intelligence forces and carrying out bombing operations in the Ahwaz region (Khuzestan Province).
The Ministry also reported the arrest of four individuals described as members of two cells allegedly linked to arms smuggling from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
According to the statement, a total of 35 individuals have been arrested across six provinces on charges related to “war against the United States and Israel.”
Previously, state-affiliated media reported that five individuals were killed in the Ahwaz region during a security operation. Authorities described those killed as “separatist terrorists.”
Based on these reports, special police forces reportedly used technical surveillance tools and drones to identify the individuals in marshland areas of one of the region’s counties. The five individuals were killed during an exchange of fire.
However, human rights organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about the lack of transparency in such cases and the absence of independent, verifiable information.
In many instances, security-related charges such as “terrorism” or “separatism” are brought without the presentation of sufficient evidence, and there is no possibility for independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killings.
