The Iranian Ministry of Security and Intelligence issued an official statement today, Tuesday, announcing the successful interception of a significant shipment of sophisticated electronic equipment intended for espionage and sabotage operations. The illicit cargo, which was intercepted en route to distribution in provinces that have recently experienced unrest and field confrontations, had been illegally smuggled across the border of a regional country.
According to the Ministry's statement, the seized shipment contained an advanced technical arsenal, including: 100 long-range receivers, 50 Base Transceiver Station (BTS) signal boosters, 743 fifth-generation (5G) modems from various global brands, and 799 state-of-the-art mobile phones.
The Ministry warned that the objective of the plot was to integrate this equipment into a comprehensive package to establish an independent communication and internet network for what it termed "terrorist and mercenary groups." The statement emphasized that these devices would have provided such elements with the capability to communicate in rugged, mountainous, and remote areas lacking conventional network coverage. This would have facilitated espionage activities targeting military, security, and industrial sectors, as well as the execution of sabotage operations beyond the reach of security monitoring.
The Ministry further indicated that the final destination for this equipment was specific provinces recently affected by "riotous activities." This, the statement suggests, points to an attempt by external parties to secure a logistical communications umbrella for on-the-ground groups, ensuring the continuity of subversive operations even in the event of local network disruptions.
The Ministry stressed that its personnel are continuing to pursue all leads connected to this shipment. It reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding national security and thwarting attempts by foreign powers to interfere in the nation's internal affairs through what it described as "digital and hybrid warfare."