Iran deals a "serious blow" to network of riot organizations

Iran (IMNA) - The country's intelligence ministry and the intelligence organization of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) jointly carried out the operation, the organizations said in a statement on Wednesday.

The operation was successful in "identifying and dealing a blow to some members of the riot organization network" thanks to the combined intelligence work done by the operatives of the bodies, according to the statement.

It stated that the members of the network were supported by the US State Department and commanded by the Nonviolent Initiative for Democracy in Massachusetts and Freedom House, a purported political advocacy group with headquarters in Washington.

The group members were attempting to organize "women so that they could play a role in [fomenting] riots," under the direction of "a foreign-based political element."

The network would provide free seminars to a select group of purported women's rights and civil society activists" who were based abroad and in Iran in order to achieve its objectives.

At the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at London University earlier this year, the network hosted its last workshop for so-called activists with international bases, with "one of the correspondents of anti-Iran media outlets" serving as the teacher.

Additionally, it had intended to host a "secret online course" over the course of two days in September with a number of "activists."

"The courses had sought to create the [necessary] preparation and devise agendas" for Iran-based rioters, according to the statement.

The network ceased operations on the same day that the nationwide riots that broke out in the wake of Mahsa Amini's sad death in September last year came to an end.

Amini passed out at a police station, and some days later, a Tehran hospital declared her dead. Her death was ascribed to a medical ailment, refuting claims that she had been attacked by police, according to an inquiry.

Iran claims that foreign-backed individuals took advantage of the situation, which led to the riots in 2022.