According to a statement issued by the ministry on Sunday, members of the three cells were either killed or arrested in preemptive operations based on intelligence work and reports from the public.
The ministry said one operative affiliated with a separatist terrorist group was killed in West Azarbaijan Province while attempting to assassinate a security commander in Piranshahr. The operative was reportedly intercepted in an ambush and killed in an armed clash with security forces before carrying out the planned attack.
In Alborz Province, an individual identified as “Amirali N.” was arrested for working under the direction of a monarchist group linked to the Israeli intelligence service. The ministry said he had transmitted information about targeted individuals as well as the locations of some IRGC and Basij military facilities to his handlers.
The ministry said the planned activities included attacking a Basij base, abducting or harassing individuals and setting vehicles on fire, adding that the suspect was arrested before carrying out the operations.
In Kerman Province, intelligence forces also arrested members of a two-person terrorist cell linked to enemy intelligence services. The ministry said the cell had been tasked with bombing a major infrastructure facility in Bam County and preparing for further armed and terrorist operations.