TEHRAN -- A Sunni Friday prayer leader was assassinated by unidentified gunmen in Iran’s southeastern border county of Mirjaveh early on Monday, local officials said, condemning the attack as a “terrorist act.”
Molavi Muhammad Anvar Rigi, the Friday prayer leader of the Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Mirjaveh, was attacked by unidentified armed assailants in the early hours of Monday and later died from his injuries, Mirjaveh Governor Mokhtar Mohsen Mobaraki said.
Mobaraki described the killing as “an unsuccessful attempt to undermine the security, tranquility and unity of the people of Sistan and Baluchestan Province.”
He said security, law enforcement and judicial authorities had launched an investigation into the incident and were working to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible.
“The identification, arrest and punishment of the perpetrators of this blind terrorist crime is being pursued decisively,” Mobaraki said.
He urged residents to remain calm and obtain information only from official sources, warning against attempts by what he described as Iran’s enemies to exploit the incident to sow division.
Mobaraki said unity between the province’s Shia and Sunni communities remained “a valuable asset,” adding that the attack would not undermine solidarity or security in the region.
Ali Kord, the parliamentary representative for the Khash constituency, also condemned the killing, describing it as a “terrorist and cowardly attack of criminal mercenaries.”
Kord said such attacks would not weaken the resolve of residents in the province but would instead strengthen unity and solidarity. He called on security, judicial and political authorities to identify and punish those responsible and take decisive action against the perpetrators and their supporters.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. Authorities said investigations were continuing.
The assassination comes amid heightened concerns over terrorist threats in Iran’s southeastern border regions, particularly following recent admissions by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Washington’s covert operations aimed at destabilizing the Islamic Republic. 
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed that Trump reached out to regional leaders to discuss plans for the “fragmentation of Iran”.