3 Injured in Iran Police Station Attack

An attack consisting of two bomb explosions was perpetrated by the Jaish al-Adl group on a police station in the city of Zahedan, southeastern Iran, injuring three police officers.

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The group reported they'd targeted the police station with “two strong bombs,” which are allegedly handmade.

"Investigations showed that the explosion was caused by a handmade explosive device, which led to a bomb squad being dispatched to the location who found a suspicious package," said the provincial police chief, Mohammad Ghanbari

Zahed, the capital of the Sistan-Baluchetan province, is known to be a region where conflict between insurgent groups and government forces is prevalent. Zahedan is also part of a wider zone called Balcohistan covering parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Clashes also often take place between Balochistani nationalists and Iranian law enforcement.

This is not an isolated event. The Jaish al-Adl group has been active and in recent months it claimed responsibility for kidnapping 10 Iranian security personnel, among them were Revolutionary Guards, some of which are still being held captive.

Another incident took place in September 2018, where members of the Revolutionary Guard confronted and killed four Sunni insurgents, among them the second in command of the Jaish al-Adl.

The group, founded in 2012, identifies itself with the Salafist movement within Sunni Islam. Iran, India, and Japan have recognized this group as a serious threat.

Sunnis are a minority group within the majority of Shia population, including its President Hassan Rouhani.

Iran has been making efforts to launch a new satellite, ignoring U.S. and European warnings to avoid such activity.

The United States warned Iran this month against undertaking three planned rocket launches that it said would violate a U.N. Security Council resolution because they use ballistic missile technology.

Behind these allegations is a deep-seated fear that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, something which has been categorically denied by its leadership.