TEHRAN – In a tragic terrorist attack in Mirjaveh in the south eastern province of Sistan Balouchestan three Iranian border guards have been killed, confirmed officials.

The attack occurred on Thursday evening when several assailants opened fire on the border guards who were refueling at a local gas station. 

According to Mehdi Shamsabadi, the prosecutor of Zahedan, the victims include Second Lieutenant Mohammad Amin Narouei, Private Parsa Soozani, and Private Amir Ebrahimzadeh. One civilian present at the scene was also injured in the attack. 

Shamsabadi revealed that a judicial case has been initiated in response to the terrorist act, and intelligence agencies have commenced efforts to identify those responsible for the attack.

The Jaish al-Adl terrorist group, which is known for its violent activities and operates from neighboring Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for the assault. This group has a history of targeting Iranian security forces. In recent months, Jaish al-Adl has been linked to several attacks, including an April incident in which five Iranian police officers were killed, and an earlier strike on December 15 of the previous year that resulted in the deaths of 11 officers and injuries to six others.

In response to these ongoing threats, Iran has taken measures to combat the group, including a significant military operation in January that targeted Jaish al-Adl's strongholds in Pakistan’s Balochistan province with missiles and drones.

Following the recent incident, Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref extended his condolences to the Iranian people and the families of the martyrs. 

He stressed the importance of taking proactive measures to prevent such attacks from happening again.

On Friday morning, Aref spoke separately by phone with Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and Sistan-Balouchestan Governor Mohammad Karimi. During the conversations, he offered his sympathies to the families of the fallen officers and inquired about the security situation in the region. He also called for a comprehensive investigation into all aspects of the attack.

Aref emphasized the need to strengthen border security to prevent future terrorist incidents and to provide peace of mind for the people of the border province.

He also instructed the interior minister to mobilize all security resources to swiftly capture and bring the attackers to justice.

Aref reiterated the necessity of continuing efforts to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of this terrorist act. Aref called for close coordination between the Ministry of Intelligence, the Judiciary, and the Armed Forces General Staff to ensure that such senseless and inhumane acts are not repeated.

During the phone calls, Interior Minister Momeni and Governor Mohammad Karimi provided detailed reports on the deadly attack.