Violence in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province

Tensions have escalated in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province following a series of violent incidents involving the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and unidentified armed groups.

On September 16, IRGC Commander-in-Chief Major General Ahmad Vahidi pledged revenge after the assassination of Molvi Yusuf Gargij, a prominent Sunni cleric in Zahedan. Gargij, who worked to promote unity between Sunni and Shia Muslims, was shot by unidentified individuals outside his home. Vahidi attributed the killing to ‘mercenary terrorists’ acting on behalf of the United States and Israel.

One week later, on September 23, Brigadier General Hossein Zarifi, a senior IRGC commander, was killed during clashes with armed men in the Saravan area. The IRGC reported that a raid on a safe house in Jahadabad resulted in the deaths of five members of a militant group. However, the Baloch rights group Haalvsh reported that at least 13 security force members were seriously wounded during the operation. The specific militant organization involved in the Saravan clashes has not been identified.