Iran Announces Dismantling of 'Separatist Cell' Linked to US and Israel

Iranian authorities announced the dismantling of a cell they described as "terrorist and separatist" in Kermanshah province in western Iran, accusing its members of being linked to Israel and the United States.

The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence said on Wednesday that five individuals were arrested who allegedly planned to carry out attacks in Tehran, Alborz, and Kermanshah provinces, coinciding with the arrest of three others on charges of smuggling weapons and ammunition.

The General Directorate of Intelligence in Kermanshah stated that the group of five was operating "under the direction and coordination of elements linked to Israeli and American intelligence agencies," according to a statement issued by them.

The statement noted that the group members participated during the events of January last year in "acts of sabotage and inciting terror" in those provinces, referring to the wave of popular protests witnessed in Iran.

The statement added that security forces arrested three members of a weapons and ammunition smuggling network while they were entering from the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq, and seized 50 pistols and 100 magazines of ammunition from their possession.

This operation comes in the context of a series of security operations carried out by Iranian authorities to pursue what they describe as "armed groups, terrorist cells, and espionage networks," according to repeated official statements.

Kermanshah province gains security importance due to its geographical location in western Iran, on the border with the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and the presence of areas with a Kurdish majority in the west of the country, where armed Kurdish opposition groups have historically been active, some demanding autonomy or separation, and which Tehran accuses of carrying out attacks against security forces and government institutions.

Previously, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence announced in September last year the dismantling of cells it said were linked to armed groups in West Azerbaijan, Alborz, and Kerman provinces, accusing some detainees of planning to assassinate a security official and targeting vital facilities.