Iranian Police Thwart Planned Islamic State Attack
In a significant security operation, Iranian police have detained a high-ranking member of Islamic State (IS) along with two other individuals. The arrests, which occurred in Karaj, just west of Tehran, were part of a preemptive effort to disrupt a planned suicide attack intended for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr celebrations, marking the conclusion of Ramadan.
The operative, identified as Mohammad Zaker or “Ramesh,” was apprehended following skirmishes, as reported by Iranian media outlets. Alongside the trio, eight additional suspects were taken into custody. This development comes amidst heightened vigilance following a series of deadly incidents attributed to Islamic State.
Earlier this year, IS claimed responsibility for two bombings in Iran that resulted in nearly 100 fatalities. These attacks coincided with a memorial service for Qassem Soleimani, a high-ranking Iranian commander killed by a U.S. drone strike in 2020. In response to these bombings, Iran detained 35 individuals in January, including a commander from the Afghanistan-based ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) faction.
The group’s influence extends beyond Iran’s borders, as evidenced by the tragic mass shooting at a concert hall near Moscow on March 22, which left at least 144 people dead. U.S. intelligence has linked ISIS-K to both the January attacks in Iran and the Moscow shootings. Notably, sources revealed that Iran had previously warned Russia about the potential for such an attack on its territory.
Islamic State’s history of violence in Iran includes an assault on a Shi’ite shrine in 2022 that claimed 15 lives and twin bombings in 2017 targeting significant political and religious sites. At its peak, IS controlled vast regions in Iraq and Syria and was notorious for its brutal rule and for inspiring attacks worldwide.
The recent arrests underscore the ongoing threat posed by IS and the concerted efforts by Iranian authorities to safeguard national security during a period of religious significance.
