Gunmen attack courthouse in Iran’s Zahedan: Six dead, 22 injured VIDEO/UPDATED

An armed assault on a courthouse in the southeastern Iranian city of Zahedan, located in Sistan-Baluchistan province, has left six people dead and 22 others injured.

According to Iranian news agency Tasnim, the fatalities include three members of the military and law enforcement. The remaining victims—both those killed and injured—are civilians, among them a woman and a child.

The motive and identity of the attackers have not yet been disclosed, and the situation remains under investigation.

11:05

An armed assault occurred at a courthouse in Zahedan, located in Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchistan province, according to reports from the Baluchi Telegram channel Haalvsh.

Several gunmen reportedly stormed the courthouse and made their way directly to the judges’ offices.

Eyewitnesses said that gunfire erupted inside the building during the attack. Initial reports indicate there were fatalities and injuries among court employees and security personnel, although the precise number of casualties has not yet been confirmed. The identities and motives of the assailants remain unknown at this stage.

Shortly after the incident, the Sunni militant group Jaish ul-Adl released a statement claiming responsibility for what it described as an operation targeting the judicial system in Zahedan. The group reported that several individuals were killed or wounded in the attack.

In the statement, Jaish ul-Adl said the operation — which it dubbed “The Hand of Justice” — was a direct response to executions of Baloch prisoners carried out by Iranian authorities. The group had previously warned that Tehran would face consequences for such actions.

Sistan and Baluchistan, a province with a majority Sunni Baluchi population, has long been a centre of anti-government unrest in Iran. The region regularly witnesses clashes between residents and security forces, as well as widespread protests against the central government.

By Tamilla Hasanova