Iran arrests 31 members of four 'sabotage' networks linked to US, Israel in Kerman
Synopsis
Iran's Intelligence Ministry says it has arrested 31 members of four 'sabotage' networks in Kerman province, allegedly directed by the US and Israel — while Foreign Minister Araghchi simultaneously dismissed British claims of Iranian involvement near RAF Fairford. Two flashpoints in one week underscore how Tehran is managing overlapping fronts of domestic security and Western diplomatic pressure.
Key Takeaways
Iran's Intelligence Ministry announced the arrest of 31 individuals from four alleged 'sabotage' networks on 3 October 2026 .
The detainees were held in Sirjan County, Kerman province , and are allegedly linked to the United States and Israel .
Authorities claim the networks stockpiled Molotov cocktails and planned to destroy surveillance cameras and trigger street riots.
The ministry also alleged the detainees committed destructive acts during the January unrests , including setting the governor's office on fire.
Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi denied Iranian involvement in the RAF Fairford incident, calling British PM Andy Burnham's claim misdirected.
Five men detained by British police near RAF Fairford were released on bail by Monday after initial investigations.
Iran's Intelligence Ministry on Saturday, 3 October 2026, announced the arrest of 31 members of four organised 'sabotage' networks allegedly linked to the United States and Israel in the southeastern Kerman province. The detainees were apprehended in Sirjan County, according to a ministry statement published on its official website.
What the Networks Were Planning
The Intelligence Ministry alleged that the detained individuals were preparing to 'carry out the US and Israeli enemies' plots' to disrupt public security and destroy both public and private property. According to the ministry, the networks had stockpiled large quantities of Molotov cocktails and had assembled tools specifically intended to damage public infrastructure, including urban surveillance cameras.
Officials said the networks were also planning to instigate street riots. The ministry characterised the intended actions as targeted destabilisation operations directed from abroad.
Alleged Role in January Unrest
The ministry further alleged that members of these networks had participated in what it described as 'widespread brutal and destructive' acts during the January unrests in Iran. According to the statement, those acts included setting the governor's office building on fire, damaging banks, government buildings, and private properties, attacking police stations, and destroying urban surveillance cameras.
This is not the first time Iranian authorities have attributed domestic unrest to foreign-directed networks. The pattern of labelling protest-linked detainees as foreign-sponsored agents has been a recurring feature of Iran's internal security communications in recent years.
Iran Denies Role in RAF Fairford Incident
Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Thursday rejected British claims that Iran had 'played a part' in a recent incident near Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford, a base in southwest England that hosts the US Air Force. British police on Sunday had detained five men, all in their 20s, on suspicion of 'explosives and terrorism offences' in the Gloucestershire countryside near the air base after reports that three vans had been seen moving towards the facility.
By Monday, all five individuals were released on police bail following an examination of materials found in the vans and investigations into addresses across London.
Araghchi's Response to British PM's Remarks
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in a BBC News interview, 'There are strong indications that Iran played a part in what happened over the weekend at RAF Fairford, but of course it remains an ongoing, complex, and serious police investigation.' Burnham subsequently said the UK government 'can confirm our belief that we believe Iran to have played a part' in the incident.
Araghchi issued a rebuttal in a post on social media platform X on Thursday, directly quoting Burnham before adding: 'I can confirm Iran's belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all. You're barking up the wrong tree.'
The dual developments — the Kerman arrests and the RAF Fairford denial — signal a week of heightened tension between Tehran and its Western adversaries, with both sides trading assertions that are, as yet, unverified by independent sources. How the UK investigation concludes and whether Iran faces formal diplomatic consequences will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
And Tehran's rebuttal was rhetorical rather than evidentiary. What is notable is that both episodes broke in the same week, suggesting Tehran is managing parallel pressure tracks — internal dissent and Western accusations — with a unified counter-narrative of foreign interference. Independent verification of either set of claims remains absent, and that gap is where the real story lies.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Iran arrest 31 people in Kerman province?
Iran's Intelligence Ministry says the 31 detainees were members of four organised 'sabotage' networks allegedly directed by the US and Israel to cause riots, destroy public property, and disrupt security. The arrests were made in Sirjan County, Kerman province, according to an official ministry statement.
What did Iran allege the networks were planning?
According to the Intelligence Ministry, the networks had stockpiled Molotov cocktails and tools to damage urban surveillance cameras, and were preparing to instigate street riots. The ministry also alleged their members were involved in destructive acts during Iran's January unrest, including arson at a governor's office.
What is the RAF Fairford incident and why is Iran linked to it?
British police on Sunday detained five men near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offences after three vans were seen heading towards the US Air Force-hosting base. British PM Andy Burnham stated there were 'strong indications' of Iranian involvement, a claim Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi has flatly denied. All five detainees were released on police bail by Monday.
What did Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi say about the RAF Fairford allegations?
Araghchi posted a rebuttal on X on Thursday, quoting PM Burnham's statement before saying 'I can confirm Iran's belief that releasing supposed terrorists working for foreign states really says it all. You're barking up the wrong tree.' He rejected any Iranian role in the incident.
Are Iran's claims about US and Israeli links to the sabotage networks independently verified?
No independent verification of the Intelligence Ministry's claims linking the detainees to the US or Israel has been reported. Iran has a pattern of attributing domestic unrest to foreign-directed networks, and such assertions should be treated with caution until confirmed by credible independent sources.
