A Sunni Friday prayer leader was shot dead by unidentified gunmen on Monday in Iran’s southeastern border town of Mirjaveh, state media reported, as tensions continue to rise across the region amid escalating military exchanges between Tehran and Washington.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
Molavi Mohammad Anvar Rigi, who led Friday prayers in Sistan-Baluchistan province, was targeted in the attack. Authorities are yet to identify the assailants or establish a motive.
Local officials said an investigation was underway and urged residents to remain calm. According to Reuters, officials described the killing as an attempt to “undermine security and stoke sectarian divisions” in the province. No arrests have been announced and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The incident took place in Sistan-Baluchistan, a province bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan that has a large Sunni Baluch population.
The impoverished region is a hotspot for unrest, with Sunni militant groups such as Jaish al-Adl frequently clashing with Iranian security forces. The province has witnessed years of unrest and continues to faces deep economic challenges, including high poverty and unemployment, along with limited infrastructure.
Its remote borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan have also made it a corridor for smuggling activities, including drugs, weapons and illicit trade, further complicating security challenges in the region.
