Iran Intelligence Ministry says it dismantled three US-Israel-linked cells

Iran's Intelligence Ministry issued a statement on Sunday announcing the dismantling of three operational cells linked to terrorist groups, according to Mehr News. The operations took place across three provinces and resulted in the killing or arrest of cell members.

In West Azarbaijan province, the Intelligence Department carried out a preemptive operation in Piranshahr County. An operative of a separatist terrorist group who was plotting to assassinate a security commander was ambushed and killed during a clash with security forces before he could carry out the plan, the statement said.

In Alborz province, the General Department of Intelligence conducted surveillance operations that led to the arrest of a mercenary linked to what the statement described as the American-Zionist enemy. The individual, said to be acting on orders from a handler within a monarchist group affiliated with the Zionist regime's intelligence service, intended to carry out sabotage. The statement added that the defendant, under the guidance and training of the monarchist group, had provided the enemy with details of targeted individuals and coordinates of specific military sites belonging to the IRGC and the Basij. The planned subversive activities were thwarted.

In Kerman province, the General Department of Intelligence identified an organized cell linked to terrorist groups affiliated with American-Zionist intelligence services. Its members were arrested before they could carry out any subversive acts, the ministry said.

The statement did not provide further details on the identities of those arrested or killed, nor did it specify the exact timing of the operations beyond saying they occurred on Sunday. The Intelligence Ministry described the actions as part of a series of preemptive operations by its forces.

According to Mehr News, members of the three cells affiliated with US-Israeli terrorist groups were killed or arrested across the three provinces. The report did not include additional comment from other Iranian officials or from the groups mentioned.