Iranian police announced the seizure of nearly 60,000 illegal weapons during an operation in the southern city of Bushehr, according to a statement released on January 17, 2026. Two suspected terrorists were arrested in the raid, and the weapons were reportedly being transported to the capital, Tehran. The statement, cited by Press TV, said the country’s intelligence forces identified and detained members of a 'dangerous and armed terrorist group' allegedly trained by Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad.

Authorities claimed the group had been assigned to carry out killings and was involved in multiple terrorist activities. The weapons were said to have been obtained from smugglers. The announcement came as Iran faced widespread anti-government protests that have continued for about 20 days across the country.

The demonstrations began on December 28 in response to the falling value of the Iranian rial and rising living costs. The protests have since turned violent, marking the largest unrest since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.