At Least 6 Killed, Including Mother and Child, in Terrorist Attack on Courthouse in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan Province — 20 Others Injured
[Zahedan, Iran – July 26, 2025] —
A deadly terrorist attack at a courthouse in Zahedan, the capital of Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, has left at least six people dead, including a mother and her child, and over 20 others injured, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA and security sources.
The attack occurred on Saturday morning, when armed assailants entered the courthouse and first threw a hand grenade. Panic spread quickly as they opened fire inside the building.
A senior police officer reported that three of the attackers were killed on the spot by security forces in a swift gunfight.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) regional headquarters stated that the Pakistan-based Baluch militant group Jaish al-Adl was behind the attack. The group claimed responsibility in a statement posted on Telegram.
According to Jaish al-Adl, they tried to evacuate civilians from the area before the attack; however, due to the intensity of the assault, many innocent people, including women and children, were killed or injured.
Deputy Police Chief of Sistan-Baluchestan Alireza Daliri said the attackers disguised themselves as regular visitors to infiltrate the courthouse.
The local human rights organization HAALVSH, citing eyewitnesses, reported that the assailants entered judges' chambers and opened fire at judicial officials and security personnel.
IRNA confirmed that the injured have been rushed to medical facilities, and emergency rescue operations at the scene are ongoing.
A Volatile Region with Longstanding Tensions
Sistan-Baluchestan is a highly sensitive border province in southeastern Iran, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is home to Iran’s minority Sunni Muslim Baluch population, who have long complained of economic marginalization and political exclusion.
Baluch militant groups in the region have been engaged in an armed struggle against Iranian forces, demanding greater autonomy and rights. The Iranian government has repeatedly accused these groups of carrying out cross-border terrorism and smuggling operations with support from foreign intelligence agencies.
In October last year, a similarly deadly attack in this province resulted in the death of 10 police officers. That incident was also labeled a “terrorist act” by Iranian authorities.
Today’s attack once again highlights the instability and persistent insecurity in Sistan-Baluchestan, where frequent clashes occur between state forces and armed groups.
