Gunmen Kill 6, Wound 20 in Southeast Iran Court Attack

On July 26, 2025, unknown gunmen launched a violent attack on the courthouse in Zahedan, the capital of Iran's restive southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province, killing six people including a child and a woman, and injuring around 20 others. The assailants, armed with guns and grenades and reportedly wearing explosive vests, were killed by security forces during the ensuing clashes. The militant Sunni separatist group Jaish al-Adl claimed responsibility, seeking independence for Iran's eastern Sistan and Pakistan's southwestern Baluchistan provinces. This province, bordering Afghanistan and Pakistan, has a history of violence involving militant groups, drug smugglers, and Iranian security forces, and is marked by strained relations between its predominantly Sunni Muslim population and Iran's Shiite government. The attack underscores ongoing security challenges amid broader geopolitical tensions, including recent nuclear talks between Iran and European powers focusing on sanctions and cooperation with international agencies. Emergency services responded swiftly, evacuating visitors and providing medical care to the critically injured.