ALBAWABA- Iran’s Intelligence Ministry announced the seizure of U.S.-manufactured weapons and explosive devices from homes linked to alleged “terror cells,” as anti-government protests continue across the country.
Officials reported discovering firearms, ammunition, improvised explosive device (IED) components, and over 200 kilograms of explosives hidden in residential properties in multiple provinces, including West Azerbaijan and Khorasan.
The haul included 273 weapons smuggled via a foreign truck, drone assembly equipment, and surveillance gear. Several suspects described as “cell members” affiliated with foreign intelligence services were arrested, including individuals accused of ties to Israel’s Mossad. In one operation, a four-member armed group was neutralized, yielding additional firearms and IED materials.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iranian forces have audio recordings of foreign voices allegedly directing protesters, further implicating external actors in the unrest.
Officials have repeatedly accused the United States and Israel of deploying agents to incite violence, a narrative reinforced after massive pro-government rallies in Tehran yesterday, where President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei denounced what they called a U.S.-Israeli plot to destabilize the Islamic Republic.
The disclosures come hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on any nation trading with Iran, signaling escalating economic pressure amid protests that began on December 28, 2025, over inflation, currency collapse, and economic grievances.
Trump has warned Tehran against targeting demonstrators, stating the U.S. is “locked and loaded” for potential military action, a stance echoing his response to the June 2025 12-day war, when U.S.-backed Israeli strikes targeted Iranian nuclear sites.
Rights groups report over 500 deaths in the crackdown, while Iranian authorities maintain that foreign-backed elements are arming protesters to provoke chaos. The developments could heighten tensions between Tehran, Washington, and Tel Aviv, as Iran vows readiness for any potential military confrontation.
