TEHRAN -- Iran’s Intelligence 
Ministry said on Wednesday it had broken up a five-member terrorist-separatist cell planning attacks in three provinces and detained three arms smugglers near the Iraqi border, in a pair of coordinated counterintelligence operations.
The ministry said its offices in Kermanshah, Alborz and Tehran provinces identified and arrested the five terrorists after receiving public tip-offs and conducting intelligence surveillance. 
The cell was preparing terrorist operations in the three provinces under the direction of individuals linked to U.S. and Israeli spy agencies.
The ministry said the arrested individuals had played a Daesh-like role during the January riots, including destroying public property and sowing fear and panic in the provinces.
In a separate operation, three members of a weapons-smuggling team were arrested as they attempted to enter Iran from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Authorities seized 50 handguns and 100 magazines from the group, which the ministry said was smuggling “arms and military ammunition for terrorist operations.”
Wednesday’s announcement adds to a string of security operations in Iran’s western provinces in recent weeks. On Oct. 24, authorities announced the arrest of two people in Kermanshah over links to foreign espionage services, seizing 10 Starlink devices, 10 AK-47 rifles and 5,200 rounds of ammunition. 
On Oct. 13, intelligence officers in Kermanshah arrested two people entering from Iraq’s Kurdistan region, seizing 109 firearms, including 99 handguns and 10 Kalashnikov rifles, along with 1,700 rounds of ammunition and 198 magazines.
The ministry urged citizens to report suspicious activity through its 113 tip line or official channels on Iranian messaging apps.