TEHRAN -- Iran’s Intelligence Ministry said Friday 30 key ringleaders, associates, and vandals have been identified and arrested over their role in the foreign-backed riots that erupted in January.
According to the ministry, the General Intelligence Directorate of Markazi Province, tipped off by the public and following intelligence surveillance, identified and arrested 30 U.S.- and Israeli-backed mercenaries in the counties of Mahallat and Nimvar.
The mercenaries caused widespread destruction and set fire to people’s homes, large stores, banks, emergency and personal vehicles, government buildings, and several mosques during the January riots. They also attacked railway carriages and threatened the lives of passengers, and looted shops, the ministry noted.
During the operation, a number of cold weapons (blades, axes, and knives) and significant amounts of alcoholic beverages and drugs were also found and confiscated from these foreign-backed elements.
Earlier this year, 70 rioters were arrested in the province.
The General Intelligence Directorate of Markazi Province vowed that the crimes committed during the January riots will not be subject to the statute of limitations.
“Let the enemies of the sacred establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran also know that the Daesh-style crimes committed by their mercenaries during the terrorist incidents in January will not be subject to the statute of limitations,” it stressed.
The January 8-9 riots in Iran were instigated by overt foreign interference, most notably statements from U.S. President Donald Trump, which transformed peaceful demonstrations into violent unrest. 
According to Iranian officials, the escalation was part of a U.S.-Israeli-backed coup attempt that inflicted widespread damage and resulted in thousands of martyrs among innocent citizens and security forces. 
The elements involved acted as enemy foot soldiers, providing the pretext and necessary conditions for hostile acts and aggression against Iran.