Tehran: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it has thwarted an alleged attempt to smuggle weapons into Iran from northern Iraq. The IRGC reported the seizure of a shipment of arms and ammunition close to the Iranian border.
According to Anadolu Agency, the official news agency of Iran, IRNA, cited the IRGC Ground Forces' public relations office, stating that the operation was executed in Baneh county, located in Iran's Kurdistan province, following a period of intelligence surveillance. The IRGC's statement accused anti-Iran armed groups based in northern Iraq of attempting to move a considerable consignment of US-made weapons and ammunition into Iran.
The IRGC's statement further alleged that these groups were acting on behalf of the US and the Zionist regime, though it did not provide evidence to support these claims. While the IRGC confirmed the confiscation of a substantial quantity of weapons and ammunition, it did not disclose specific details regarding the type or amount of arms seized.
In addition to stopping the weapons transfer, the IRGC indicated that intelligence operations are ongoing to identify and arrest alleged domestic collaborators connected to these groups. This development comes shortly after US President Donald Trump accused Kurdish groups of failing to deliver weapons purportedly meant for Iranian protesters, although he did not specify which groups were involved or offer evidence.
The situation unfolds against a backdrop of widespread protests in Iran, which began in December 2025 due to a sharp decline in the value of the Iranian rial against the US dollar. The protests have grown more intense in January amid increasing economic challenges and political tensions.
Regional tensions have been on the rise since February, following military strikes by the US and Israel against Iran. In response, Tehran has targeted Israel and US allies in the Gulf and imposed restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite a ceasefire mediated by Pakistan that took effect on April 8, indirect negotiations in Islamabad have yet to yield a sustainable agreement.