- 3 terrorist and 5 civilians killed
ZAHEDAN – IRAN (Agencies) July 26, 2025 – Unidentified assailants armed with automatic rifles stormed the Sistan and Baluchestan provincial courthouse in Zahedan early Saturday, opening fire inside the complex and wounding at least 13 people, according to Tasnim news agency. Emergency crews and security forces swiftly cordoned off the area, evacuating judges, staff and visitors as the brief but intense assault ended, the Judiciary Information Center reported.
Unofficial accounts suggest five people were killed in the assault, though authorities have not confirmed any fatalities. Medical teams from Emergency Unit 115 and Khatam al-Anbiya Hospital treated the wounded, some of whom underwent immediate surgical procedures under Dr. Mohammad Hassan Mohammadi’s supervision.
Explosions and sustained gunfire were heard in and around the judges’ chambers, with eyewitnesses reporting that the assailants infiltrated deep into the building before Iranian security forces regained control following an exchange of fire. A preliminary probe by bomb-disposal units found no unexploded ordnance, but investigators are examining fragments of improvised devices recovered at the scene.
The Sunni militant group Jaish al-Zolm – also known as Jaish al-Adl – claimed responsibility in a statement circulated on social media, asserting the attack was retaliation for what it described as judicial oppression of the Baluch minority. The IRGC’s Quds Force said it killed three attackers and detained several suspects during its response, restoring order within an hour of the initial assault.
Located near Iran’s volatile borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan, Zahedan has seen a surge in insurgent violence in recent years, with Baluch separatist factions frequently targeting government institutions.
Judiciary officials condemned the assault as an “unacceptable act of terror” aimed at undermining the rule of law, and have urged citizens to remain calm and avoid the area while security forces continue their investigation.
The attack underscores the persistent security challenges in Iran’s southeast, highlighting the need for enhanced protection of state infrastructure and deeper engagement with marginalized communities to address the roots of unrest.