The escalating tensions with Israel pose a significant external threat. Internally, the Iranian security apparatus seems stretched thin. It was April 3rd when Iran witnessed a bloody Wednesday, when Jaish al-Adal, a proscribed and labeled terrorist organization by the United States, propelled organized assault in the southeastern province of Sistan e Baluchstan. It was nearly 17 hours long siege in the two cities including port city of Chahbahar and Rask where intense shootouts erupted, claiming the lives of 10 security officers and 18 militants. The attacks unfolded against a backdrop of heightened tensions. Just days prior, Israeli airstrikes targeted the Iranian embassy in Damascus Syria, killing senior Iranian officials. Iranian threats of retaliation hung heavy in the air.

Sistan e Baluchstan, a restless, edgy and underdeveloped province of Iran bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long grappled with issues of marginalization and discrimination. The region is home to a sizeable Sunni Baloch population who feel neglected by the Shiite dominated central government. It has been saying that Jaish al-Adl, a Sunni militant group, thrives in this environment, drawing support from grievances and a porous border. The attackers targeted military bases belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), aiming to seize control and inflict maximum damage. State media broadcasted chilling footage of gunmen roaming the streets, explosions rocking the cities, and plumes of smoke rising into the sky. The fighting was brutal, with reports of militants using civilians as human shields and detonating suicide jackets. The Iranian narrative decorates that foreign backed elements were behind these attacks, and blaming specifically Israel and its regional terrorist proxies. The IRGC vowed a strong response, emphasizing that the security of the Iranian people is a red line.

Conversely, the situation is far more complex. Jaish al-Adl claims the attacks targeted a development project in Makan, seen as threatening the Sunni demographic balance. This highlights the underlying ethnic and sectarian tensions simmering in the region. The human cost of this violence is immense. Videos showcased the devastation, bullet riddled buildings, lifeless bodies on streets, and terrified residents trapped in their homes. The timing of these attacks could not be worse for Iran. Iran is reeling from the Israeli strikes, a falling currency, and the specter of further confrontation. The assailants had clear understanding of local infrastructure and the pressure on Iranian intelligence capabilities.

The fight against terrorism requires a nuanced understanding. Blaming external actors alone is insufficient and not enough. Iran must acknowledge the internal factors fueling these conflicts and work towards a more inclusive and just society for all its citizens. Only then can lasting peace and stability be achieved. Iran desperately requires a multi-pronged approach. Need to understand, acknowledge and address the root causes of discontent in Sistan e Baluchstan is crucial. It’s easy to blame others for your mistakes, but only a fool learns nothing from them, Iran in this current growing challenging situation must have to understand and to give importance to Baloch dominated region.

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