A terrorist attack on a courthouse in southeastern Iran left six people dead and 22 wounded on Saturday, with the Pakistan-based jihadist group Jaish al-Adl claiming responsibility for the assault. Among the victims were a mother and her one-year-old child, according to local authorities. The attack unfolded in Sistan and Baluchestan province, a restive region bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, where Iran’s Sunni Baloch minority has long been a focal point of tensions between security forces and armed groups.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported that three assailants, disguised as civilians, attempted to infiltrate the courthouse but were intercepted after authorities grew suspicious. A shootout erupted when the attackers failed to gain entry, as detailed by Iranian media outlet Mehr News, citing local officials. One of the gunmen reportedly threw a grenade into the building before being neutralized, exacerbating the civilian toll. The two remaining assailants were killed in an exchange of gunfire outside the courthouse. Security forces later discovered the attackers had been equipped with suicide vests, though the devices were not detonated during the confrontation.
Jaish al-Adl, designated as a terrorist organization by Iran, asserted responsibility in a statement urging civilians to vacate the area ahead of the attack. The group, which operates across the Iran-Pakistan border, has been implicated in multiple violent incidents in recent years. Last January, Iran conducted missile strikes targeting the group’s bases in southwestern Pakistan, a response to a suicide bombing in December 2023 that killed 11 Iranian police officers.
Sistan and Baluchestan’s strategic location and ethnic dynamics have made it a frequent site of clashes between Iranian forces and separatist or militant factions. The Baloch minority, which straddles the porous border region, has historically cited grievances over political marginalization and economic neglect. Meanwhile, Tehran accuses external actors, including Pakistan-based groups, of fueling instability.
Saturday’s violence underscores persistent security challenges in the province, where cross-border militant activity and domestic unrest often intersect. The attack follows heightened regional tensions, including Iran’s recent strikes on targets in Syria and Iraq, which it linked to counterterrorism efforts. Authorities have yet to announce specific measures in response to the courthouse assault, though analysts anticipate renewed scrutiny of border security and potential retaliatory actions.
