Iran says arrests people behind bomb attack plotNovember 16, 2012 - 14:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran's Intelligence Ministry has arrested people planning bomb attacks with the support of Western and Israeli spy agencies in the oil-producing province of Khuzestan, Reuters reported citing state television. Khuzestan, in Iran's southwest, is home to a large population of ethnic Arab Iranians, also known as Ahwazis, who have long complained of economic deprivation and systematic discrimination by the authorities. The region has occasionally suffered violent action by militants. Iran has in the past accused Western intelligence agencies and the Israeli Mossad of carrying out attacks against its nuclear scientists. "In the last few days a number of terrorist elements connected to foreign intelligence services ... were identified and arrested along with a significant amount of explosives materials and items sent from a country in the Persian Gulf area," the Intelligence Ministry statement said, according to Iranian state television's website. "These elements, led by Western-Zionist intelligence services, sought to commit other acts of sabotage, which were foiled." The statement said the individuals, who it did not otherwise identify or give details on, had planned to blow up parts of Khuzestan's energy infrastructure. Five Iranian scientists and academics have been killed or attacked since 2010, in incidents believed to have targeted Iran's disputed nuclear program, which the West says is aimed at producing a bomb, a charge Iran denies. The United States has denied involvement in the attacks, while Israel has remained silent. Ten Iranian Arabs were sentenced to death in July 2006 in Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan, for a series of bombings. Activists say Iran's authorities have increasingly cracked down on Ahwazis, who say they are discriminated against in employment, housing, and civil and political rights. In June, U.N. human rights experts said Iran had executed four Arab Iranians after an opaque trial whose fairness was questionable, and urged Tehran to halt all executions. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |