IRGC arrests armed monarchist cell over alleged plot to turn Iran protests deadly

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps says it has arrested an eight-member armed cell linked to the monarchist movement in the southern province of Fars. The IRGC said the group had connections to anti-government organizations and had obtained weapons with the aim of causing deaths during potential protests.

According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the authorities also alleged that members of the cell had taken part in unrest across parts of Iran in December 2025 and January 2026. The accusations include carrying out or planning attacks with Molotov cocktails, burning tires, blocking roads and damaging public property.

The IRGC did not identify those arrested or detail the weapons it said had been seized. The statement also contained no comments from the detainees or their lawyers. Iran’s monarchist movement includes political groups and activists seeking to remove the Islamic Republic and restore the monarchy abolished after the 1979 revolution.

In a separate operation, IRGC-affiliated security forces in West Azerbaijan province announced the seizure of shipments of weapons and ammunition. Iranian media have previously reported seizures in the province involving machine guns, ammunition and hand grenades. Authorities said the operations aimed to stop weapons from reaching armed groups.

The announcements come as Iranian security forces intensify measures in several provinces, particularly near border areas. Iranian authorities have accused various groups of trying to conduct armed operations or destabilize the country during the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States.