Revolutionary Guards Killed, Again

A number of Islamic Passdaran Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders, including Brigadier General Nurali Shushtari, deputy commander of the IRGC’s ground forces, were killed two days ago during an explosion occurring in the “Pishin” district of the Sarbaz city in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchistan province.  Meanwhile, the sound of a horrific explosion near the oil ministry building and the derailing of the Tehran-Kerman train line led to scores of rumors across the nation.

The publication of conflicting reports about the location of the explosion (some officials claimed that it took place at a crafts show, while others announced that it took place at a gathering of ethnic and tribal elders), along with the high frequency of incidents involving IRGC commanders in recent years has shrouded the most recent explosion in a cloud of doubt.  

A statement released by the IRGC noted that in addition to commanders, several local leaders and elders were also killed in the blast.  

In addition, a number of blogs published from the province of Sistan and Baluchistan reported that several provincial security and intelligence officers were among the dead as well.

Jundallah Claims Responsibility

Following the publication of contradictory reports about the location of the explosion, the Mehr news agency, affiliated with the Islamic Propaganda Organization, reported: “Political analysts based in the region connect this terrorist operation to groups that adhere to ideologies endorsed by the Taliban and Al Qaeda.  One such group is the Rigi terrorist group.  The role of the drug mafia, which has expanded in the years since the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan, in light of the IRGC’s effective efforts in combating the mafia and strengthening the unity of Shia and Sunni communities in the region, must also be examined.”  

Other news agencies first quoted Zahedan’s prosecutor general and then the Al Arabiya network that the group Jundollah had taken responsibility for the explosion.

According to the Al Arabiya report, Jundollah identified “Abdolwahed Mohammadi Saravani” as the agent responsible for the explosion, adding, “This operation is in effect a response to the regime’s continuous crimes in Baluchistan, which continue to target the innocent and defenseless Baluchi people and claim new lives in the region every single day.”

Who Was Nurali Shushtari?

Nurali Shushtari began its career at the IRGC’s in the city of Neishabur as soon as the organization was founded.

In addition to serving as deputy commander of the IRGC’s ground forces, Nurali Shushtari’s other responsibilities included commanding the Eight and Najaf brigades during the Iran-Iraq war, commanding the Khurasan province’s IRGC division and commanding the Hamzeh Seyyed Al Shohada unit in northwestern Iran.  

Although Nurali Shushtari was among one of the 24 signatories to the threatening letter sent by IRGC commanders to Seyyed Mohammad Khatami in 1999, many analysts regarded him as a senior IRGC commander who interfered less in political affairs, instead spending most of his energy in various missions related to the IRGC’s military, economic and administrative activities.