Iran Busts Terrorist Cells as Araqchi Warns US of ‘Bigger Miscalculation’ over Strait of Hormuz

Araweelo News Network  | Associated Online Agencies

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

TEHRAN — (ANN) | Iranian authorities say security forces have dismantled two operational cells affiliated with a Takfiri terrorist group in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan, while Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi separately warned the United States against what he described as a potentially serious intelligence miscalculation over the Strait of Hormuz.
The developments come amid heightened tensions surrounding the strategic waterway and increased security operations inside Iran.
According to Iran’s Intelligence Ministry, security forces operating in Sistan and Baluchestan, in coordination with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Ground Force’s Quds Base and police forces, identified two organized cells as they entered the country and prevented them from carrying out planned operations.
The ministry said four members of the cells were arrested during intelligence operations in Khash, while two others were killed in clashes with security forces.
Iranian authorities alleged that the operatives had been dispatched by Takfiri groups linked to what the ministry described as U.S.-Israeli intelligence services. The claims have not been independently verified.
The ministry said the cells were allegedly planning operations designed to destabilize Sistan and Baluchestan and target economic infrastructure in the southern parts of the province.
Separate Security Operation in Zahedan
Iran’s Intelligence Ministry also reported the dismantling of a separate four-member criminal gang in Zahedan, the provincial capital.
According to the ministry, the suspects were allegedly involved in violent crimes and efforts to disrupt public order. Authorities said the group had planned to kidnap residents and demand money from their families.
The four suspects were arrested along with weapons and other equipment, according to the statement.
Araqchi Warns Washington over Strait of Hormuz
The security announcement came as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned Washington against relying on what he characterized as faulty intelligence in assessing the situation around the Strait of Hormuz.
In a post on X on Thursday, Araqchi said previous U.S. intelligence failures had contributed to what he called miscalculations during the conflict with Iran.
“The US has long miscalculated due to intelligence failures,” Araqchi wrote, warning that a similar problem could now affect Washington’s assessment of the strategic waterway.
He also cautioned against what he described as “fake intelligence,” urging the United States to be careful in its calculations.
Araqchi’s remarks followed statements by U.S. President Donald Trump concerning American control of the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has remained at the center of the confrontation between Washington and Tehran, with Iran continuing to link its reopening to conditions it has presented to the United States.
Shipping Traffic Remains Under Pressure
Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has remained sharply reduced amid the security crisis.
Reuters reported that the number of vessels tracked transiting the waterway had fallen to a one-week low of eight, underscoring continued caution among shipping operators.
Iran has previously stated that reopening the strait depends on Washington meeting Iranian conditions. Iranian officials have also been discussing arrangements with Oman concerning possible shipping lanes, while stressing that such arrangements would not automatically mean an immediate reopening.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes because of its role in global energy transportation.
Regional Security Tensions
The latest intelligence operations in Sistan and Baluchestan add another layer to the broader security crisis surrounding Iran.
Iranian officials have repeatedly accused foreign-backed militant and intelligence networks of attempting to conduct sabotage and destabilization operations inside the country. Such allegations are frequently disputed or difficult to independently verify.
At the same time, the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz continues to carry significant regional and international implications, particularly for commercial shipping, energy markets and Gulf security.

Araweelo News Network — Associated Online Agencies
Source: Tasnim News Agency, with additional reporting from Reuters and Iranian state media. Claims attributed to Iranian authorities have not been independently verified.
: Iran says it dismantled two terrorist cells in Sistan and Baluchestan as Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned the US against a major intelligence miscalculation over the Strait of Hormuz.
Keywords: Iran, Abbas Araqchi, Strait of Hormuz, Iran terrorism, Sistan and Baluchestan, Iranian Intelligence Ministry, Iran security, US Iran tensions, Hormuz shipping, Middle East crisis