Zahedan, Sistan‑Baluchestan:
At least nine people were killed and twenty-two injured on Saturday, following a coordinated militant attack on the Sistan‑Baluchestan provincial courthouse in Zahedan, southeastern Iran. The assault, claimed by the Sunni separatist group Jaish al-Adl, escalated into a prolonged firefight with security forces.
According to state media reports, gunmen stormed the judiciary building disguised as visitors and launched a barrage of grenades and mortar fire. The attack lasted approximately three hours before Iranian security personnel regained control. Three of the assailants were killed during the confrontation, state media added.
The provincial deputy police commander, Alireza Daliri, confirmed that victims included a mother and her young child, as well as three law enforcement and judicial staff members. All three attackers were reportedly wearing explosive vests, though it remains unclear whether any detonated.
Jaish al‑Adl-a Baloch militant organisation active in both Iran and Pakistan, has claimed responsibility via its Telegram channel. The group issued a chilling warning to judiciary personnel, declaring: “Baluchistan will no longer be a safe place for judges and court staff. Death will follow them like terrifying shadows until retribution”.
Reports from the rights group HAALVSH indicate that several judiciary officials and security officers were among the dead or wounded when militants breached the judges’ chambers and launched indiscriminate fire inside the building. Emergency responders rushed the injured to local hospitals, some in critical condition.
Sistan‑Baluchestan province, located along Iran’s border with Pakistan and Afghanistan, is frequently destabilised by ethnic tensions, insurgencies, and cross-border militancy. Jaish al‑Adl, designated as a terrorist entity by Iran and the United States, has carried out multiple deadly attacks in the region in recent years, including earlier assaults on police and military targets.
Iranian authorities allege that the group receives external support, including logistical and ideological backing from foreign actors. They also accuse it of involvement in organised smuggling and insurgency networks across the Balochistan region.
Following the attack, state media described the incident as a “terrorist act” in official statements. Iranian news outlets, including those linked to the judiciary, confirmed increased security measures to prevent further incidents. Local roads near the courthouse were immediately shut down to secure the area and aid emergency services.
This assault marks one of the most significant attacks in the region since October 2024, when Jaish al‑Adl militants ambushed a police convoy in Sistan‑Baluchestan, killing at least ten officers. Analysts emphasise that such violence underscores the enduring power of regional insurgencies and the challenges of governance in Iran’s less developed periphery.
As investigations proceed, authorities continue to appeal for calm and caution civilians against sharing unverified information. Victims’ names have not been released. Siege of the courthouse is likely to prompt renewed scrutiny of Iran’s internal security dynamics and the persistent threat posed by militant separatist networks striking at symbols of the state’s judiciary and sovereignty.
