An armed assault targeting a courthouse in Zahedan, the capital of Iran’s volatile southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, left at least five civilians dead and 13 others wounded, according to multiple Iranian media reports. The incident, which unfolded on Saturday, also resulted in the deaths of three attackers during a gunfight with Iranian security forces.
The attack reportedly began when assailants stormed the courthouse and lobbed a hand grenade into the building. Among the victims killed by the attackers were a woman and her child, as confirmed by a senior police official speaking to Iran’s state news agency, IRNA.
Security footage and images circulated online showed heavily armed forces cordoning off the area around the courthouse, highlighting the severity of the situation. The attack caused chaos within the court complex, especially in the judges’ chambers, where intense fighting broke out.
Eyewitnesses cited by the Baluch human rights organization HAALVSH claimed that multiple judicial staff and security personnel were either killed or seriously wounded in the assault. These accounts have not yet been officially verified by the Iranian government.
Sistan-Baluchestan, one of Iran’s most impoverished and ethnically diverse provinces, has long been a hotspot for unrest. The region—home to the ethnic Baluch minority and bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan—is frequently the site of violent clashes between Iranian forces and insurgent groups. These groups often claim to be fighting for increased political autonomy, greater ethnic rights, and protection from state oppression.
Armed groups in the region have a history of targeting government institutions, including police stations, military outposts, and judicial buildings. The latest incident has once again underscored the fragile security situation in the province and raised fresh concerns over the Iranian government’s ability to maintain control in its restive southeastern borderlands.
Iranian authorities have not yet released the identities of the attackers or clarified which group, if any, claimed responsibility for the assault. No official statement has been issued on whether more suspects are being pursued or if further attacks are anticipated.
Saturday’s deadly incident adds to a growing list of violent episodes that have gripped the province in recent years, reigniting calls from both human rights groups and local leaders for more meaningful dialogue and de-escalation.
As investigations continue, Iranian officials say security has been tightened across Zahedan and surrounding areas to prevent further violence.
