ZAHEDAN, Iran – At least eight people, including five civilians and three assailants, were killed in a “terrorist” attack on a judiciary building in Zahedan, the capital of Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, on Saturday. The incident, which also left 13 injured, has been widely reported by international media outlets.
According to Iranian state media, quoting the judiciary’s Mizan Online and the official IRNA news agency, “unknown armed men attacked the judicial center in Zahedan.” Initial reports indicate that the attackers attempted to gain entry to the building disguised as visitors.
Alireza Daliri, the deputy police commander of Sistan-Baluchestan province, stated that the assailants threw a grenade into the building, killing several people inside, including a one-year-old baby and the child’s mother.
Security forces quickly responded to the assault, engaging in clashes with the attackers, which resulted in the death of all three assailants. The area around the judiciary building was swiftly secured by emergency responders and security units.
The Zahedan attack occurred in Sistan-Baluchestan, a volatile border region near Pakistan and Afghanistan that frequently experiences instability.
The province has been a flashpoint for clashes between Iranian security forces and various armed groups, including ethnic Baloch militants, radical Sunni groups, and drug traffickers.
Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by the group known as Jaish al-Adl (Arabic for “Army of Justice”), a Baloch jihadist group reportedly based in Pakistan but also active within Iran. This group has been designated as a terrorist organization by both Iran and the United States, and has a history of carrying out deadly attacks against Iranian security forces and civilians.
Iranian authorities have launched a full investigation into the attack, though the identities of all victims are yet to be officially released. Provincial authorities have urged the public to stay clear of the affected area while the investigation is ongoing. The attack underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by Iran in its southeastern regions.
