The World Briefly

September 26, 2023

Deadly Anniversary

Iran

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Iran thwarted 30 planned explosions in Tehran earlier this month, according to authorities, attacks aimed at creating chaos in crowded areas of the capital, Al Jazeera reported this week.

On Sunday, security forces arrested 28 individuals in connection with the planned attacks during raids in a number of provinces, including Tehran and West Azerbaijan provinces.

The Ministry of Intelligence said the goal of these planned explosions was to undermine the country’s security, and create instability and protests.

Officials added that the attacks were set to take place “exactly during the anniversary of last year’s riots,” referring to the protests that swept Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

Amini was arrested by the country’s morality police over allegations that she had violated Iran’s strict Islamic dress code.

Her death in police custody sparked mass demonstrations against the country’s ruling clerics that went on for months.

Iranian authorities said the detained individuals were members of Islamic State (IS), while adding that the technical aspects of their operations resembled the methods typically associated with Israel – Iran’s arch-rival.

IS has claimed responsibility for an attack on the Shah Cheragh shrine in Shiraz last year, which killed 13 people and injured dozens. Another attack on the same shrine in August that killed two people was also attributed to the terror group. Iran accused a number of foreign nationals of involvement in the second attack.

The Iranian judiciary recently sentenced the shooter in the second attack to death, while two other suspects received five-year prison terms and expulsion from Iran.

This story originally appeared in the September 26, 2023 newsletter, Bricks and Blood.