Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) forces have identified and arrested the ringleaders and terrorist elements involved in recent foreign-linked riots in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan Province, confiscating various types of lethal weapons from them.
In a statement released on Sunday, the deputy public relations officer of the IRGC’s provincial unit in Khuzestan said the detainees are charged with killing innocent people, damaging public and private property, disrupting public order, terrorizing citizens, and destroying holy places including shrines and mosques.
The statement read that the terrorists had been tasked by foreign agencies with committing acts of sabotage and arson, killing people, assassinating elite individuals, and creating ethnic division. The detainees were also assigned to dismantle vital infrastructure such as water, electricity, gas, and telephone networks, as well as oil pipelines, and to attack military facilities and police stations.
IRGC forces arrest riot ringleaders in Iran’s Khuzestan, seize arms https://t.co/DNF3fyEyzE
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) January 18, 2026
Meanwhile, the IRGC’s provincial unit expressed its appreciation to the people of Khuzestan for their cooperation with the forces who apprehended the armed mercenaries. It further noted that its forces stand ready to sacrifice their lives to foil the enemies’ plots and maintain peace and security in society.
Some shopkeepers last month staged peaceful protests in different Iranian cities over economic grievances, which are directly linked to unilateral US sanctions. The demonstrations, however, were steered toward violence after public statements by US and Israeli regime figures encouraged vandalism and disorder.
During the unrest, foreign-backed armed rioters damaged public property and caused casualties among civilians and security forces.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei said on Saturday that some of the agents behind the sedition were identified, trained, and largely recruited by American and Israeli agencies.
Source: Iranian media (edite dby Al-Manar)