In a statement released on Tuesday, the Intelligence Ministry said the three cells were identified and dismantled before carrying out any terrorist or sabotage operations in the cities of Iranshahr, Sarbaz, Saravan and Zahedan in Sistan and Balouchestan Province, as well as Qeshm island in Hormozgan Province, with the cooperation of the Hormozgan Intelligence Department.
The ministry said two of the suspects were killed in clashes with security forces, while 10 other members of foreign-backed terrorist teams were arrested.
According to the statement, the suspects had received military, bomb-making and assassination training abroad before entering Iran with the intention of carrying out acts of destruction and creating insecurity. They had been staying in safe houses but were identified and apprehended with the help of reports from members of the public and cooperation between the provincial Police and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
A considerable quantity of weapons and military ammunition was seized from the arrested suspects, the ministry said.
In a separate operation as part of continued and targeted intelligence efforts against armed criminal gangs, intelligence forces also dismantled two organized gangs involved in disrupting public order and security.
Five armed suspects have been arrested in the operation, along with a quantity of weapons and related equipment, according to the statement.