Iranian regime authorities arrested a "separatist terror group" across six provinces, accused of being linked with Mossad, and other "American-Zionist enemy services," the regime's Intelligence Ministry announced on Wednesday.
This included 35 "terrorist elements, separatists, and arms smugglers," Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated outlet Tasnim News Agency reported.
One of those detained was identified as the "founder and leader of a Zionist-associated terror group attempting to secede from Khuzestan Province," the report claimed.
The group run by this "terrorist" was tied with several "assassination and bombing operations" across the province, including killing intelligence officers and members of the IRGC's Basij paramilitary, authorities said.
The "terror leader" was arrested in Isfahan Province, the semi-official Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported.
The regime claimed that 11 other members of the terror group were arrested and five others killed by security forces in the past two months.
'Zionist regime's media headquarters' staff arrested, Iranian authorities claim
Meanwhile, authorities arrested several individuals, it claims, who were associated with the "Zionist regime's media headquarters" working to "turn people into traitors." 12 such individuals were arrested in Hormozgan Province, four in Hamedan Province, and four in Kerman Province, authorities said.
In addition, a three-member "terror cell" was identified and arrested in Gilan Province, after authorities tied it to a "history of explosive operations," including "preparing firearms and homemade bombs."
Another four-member "terror cell" was arrested in Kerman Province, with three homemade bombs, several bomb-making materials, and a handgun being discovered and seized, Tasnim reported.
Two other "terror group members" were arrested in Hamadan Province, and a third was arrested in Hormozgan Province, the report says.
Additionally, authorities arrested four members of two arms smuggling cells that attempted to bring weapons over the border from Iraq's Kurdistan, seizing 42 weapons.
One of these cells was intended to distribute handguns across Khuzestan Province, but was intercepted by authorities, who seized 30 pistols.
The second cell also intended to distribute weapons across Kermanshah Province, with authorities seizing 12 weapons and 24 magazines.