Iran arrests 130 linked to extremist Sunni groups

TEHRAN – Iran has arrested over 130 members of Sunni Takfiri groups across the country, who intended to pose threats against the Islamic republic, Iran’s intelligence minister said on Tuesday.

Tens of intelligence operations by Iranian intelligence forces led to the identification and arrest of the cells linked to Takfiri extremists, the Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

The Iranian intelligence forces also foiled two bomb plots in two provincial centers on anti-Israelrallies on July 25, said Alavi according to Tasnim.

The explosives, including the explosive belts, were seized from the Sunni militants, the Iranian minister said but did not elaborate on the time and exact locations of the arrests.

Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan as well as the western Kurdistan provinces are populated by Sunni Muslims.