Iran dismantles four US-backed Jundallah-affiliated terrorist groups

Iran has dismantled four terrorist cells affiliated with the Pakistan-based Jundallah group, which had planned to carry out suicide bombings inside the country.

Commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Forces, Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, said on Tuesday that the groups had schemed to conduct bombings in parks, mosques and other public places during the Nowruz holidays (March 20-April 1).

Four members of the terrorist groups were killed and several others arrested, the commander said.

He added that the first group was broken up on March 18, and a number of explosive-laden vests as well as munitions in their possession were seized.

Five days later two other terror groups were dismantled, and the last one was recently broken up in the southeastern parts of the country, Brigadier General Pakpour said.

Jundallah terrorists have carried out numerous deadly bombings and assassination attempts in Iran, including several attacks in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan Province, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan.

On December 15, 2010, a terrorist attack in the southeastern Iranian city of Chabahar killed at least 38 people and wounded more than 90 others, including women and children. The US-backed Jundallah group later claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.

Jundallah leader Abdolmalek Rigi was arrested by Iranian intelligence forces in February 2010 and executed in June of the same year for 79 counts of crimes, including armed robbery, bombing operations and armed attacks on police officers as well as civilians.

Rigi stated in his confessions that he had dealings with the US government and was promised unlimited funds and resources for “waging an insurgency” inside Iran. He was reportedly on his way to meet with senior American authorities at a major US base in Kazakhstan when his plane was brought down by Iranian forces.