The intelligence ministry arrested 6 members of a separatist group which intended to assassinate religious figures in the southwestern province of Khuzestan. The 6 terrorists, who sought to stir violence and cause insecurities in order to start sectarian strife in the region, have already assassinated a cleric in the provincial capital city of Ahwaz.
Elsewhere, in separate operations, the intelligence ministry forces disbanded an international network of drug traffickers in northwestern Iran.
According to the public relations of the ministry, the Iranian forces have taken 700 kg of different types of narcotics from the 8 traffickers they have arrested in the city of Orumieh.
Traffickers intended to smuggle 9 tons of illicit drugs to Turkey and Europe via Iran.