A devastating attack on a courthouse in southeastern Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province has resulted in the deaths of at least five civilians, including a mother and child, with 13 others injured. The attack occurred on Saturday, July 26, 2025, when gunmen threw a hand grenade into the building in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan-Baluchestan. According to Iranian media reports, three of the attackers were killed during the assault.
The Baloch armed group Jaish al-Adl (Arabic for Army of Justice) claimed responsibility for the attack, urging “all civilians to immediately evacuate the area of clashes for their safety”. The group, designated as a terrorist organization by Iran, has been involved in previous assaults targeting Iranian military and judicial institutions in the volatile border province.
The attackers attempted to enter the building disguised as visitors, according to Alireza Daliri, Sistan-Baluchestan’s deputy police commander. Witnesses cited by the Baloch human rights group HAALVSH reported that several judiciary staff members and security personnel were killed or wounded when the assailants stormed the judges’ chambers. Emergency personnel were quickly dispatched to the scene, evacuating the wounded to medical centers.
Sistan-Baluchestan province, bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long been a hotspot for insurgent activity. The region is home to Iran’s Sunni Muslim Baloch minority, who claim economic marginalization and political exclusion. Some armed groups, like Jaish al-Adl, cite these grievances as motivation for their fight, while the Iranian government accuses them of having ties to foreign governments and involvement in attacks and cross-border smuggling.
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions in the region, where fighting between Iranian security forces and armed groups is frequent. In October, 10 police officers were killed in a “terrorist” attack, underscoring the province’s instability. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community watches closely, aware of the complexities and potential consequences of such conflicts.