Iranian Security Officials Report 3,000 Detentions Following Recent Unrest

Iranian security officials have announced the detention of approximately 3,000 individuals linked to terrorist organizations involved in recent riots. Senior clergy and provincial authorities have called for strict legal penalties while simultaneously urging the government to address underlying economic grievances. Security officials stated that those arrested include ringleaders, individuals allegedly affiliated with Israel, armed insurgents, and those responsible for damaging public property. Authorities claim certain detainees were responsible for lethal assaults and arson attacks targeting security personnel, public buildings, and mosques. Despite what officials describe as ongoing attempts by foreign adversaries to incite unrest, authorities report that order has been restored to several metropolitan areas.

Seyyed Ahmad Khatami, the interim leader of Friday prayers in Tehran, characterized the riots as a “terrorist war” and accused Israel and the United States of inciting violence within Iran. He remarked that the current system was not acquired for free, noting that over 200,000 martyrs gave their lives to maintain it. Khatami argued that the enemies envisioned the country’s disintegration but emphasized that they would not be permitted even an inch of the land as long as one Iranian remains. He stated that the people expect decisive action and demand the most severe punishment for the rioters, while also calling on authorities to prosecute anyone who supported the unrest in any form. However, Khatami acknowledged public frustration regarding inflation and urged policymakers to resolve economic difficulties, noting that devoted citizens expect the government to organize their livelihoods and confront price increases.

The Iranian media reported numerous funerals for security personnel and civilians killed by armed assailants during the turmoil. In the northeastern city of Mashhad, thousands attended a procession for two “martyrs of security” whose coffins were transported to the shrine of Imam Reza (AS) before burial. According to the Martyrs and Veterans Affairs Foundation, the deceased included a disabled veteran of the Iran-Iraq War and a member of the security forces, both of whom left behind young children.

Provincial authorities have also highlighted specific operations across the country. Police in the Golestan Province city of Azadshahr reported discovering a “team house” and detaining a key figure who allegedly admitted to using shotguns, knives, and Molotov cocktails to target bystanders and security forces. Damage in that area alone is estimated at 1,000 billion rials. Meanwhile, in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, police detained ten individuals suspected of organizing protests as part of a terrorist band. Raids in that region reportedly yielded improvised weapons, bomb-making supplies, and satellite equipment.

In western Iran, Kermanshah Governor Manoochehr Habibi compared the riots to the actions of the Mujahedin-e Khalq in the post-1979 era, labeling the unrest a pre-planned terrorist sedition directed by foreign intelligence services. Finally, in Tehran province, police released a video of an 18-year-old local leader arrested in Shahr Qods who claimed he was influenced by foreign propaganda and expressed regret for his involvement in stone-throwing incidents.