Iran: Border guards killed in clashes with gunmen

At least ten members of Iran's security forces were killed in clashes with militants at two separate locations, state TV reported on Thursday.

"The terrorists had planned to seize military bases," Iran's Deputy Interior Minister Majid Mirahmadi told state TV, adding that "none of them survived" the clashes.

Earlier reports had previously said five Iranian border guards were killed in the exchange of fire and another 10 security personnel were injured.

Mirahmadi later said more border guards could die as some of those injured were "not in favorable condition."

Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of the corps' ground force, said around 15 gunmen were killed during the gunfights.

The fighting took place overnight in Sistan and Baluchistan province, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

Gunmen reportely opened fire on a Revolutionary Guard post in Rask town and a coastguard station in Chabahar city, close to the border with Pakistan.

A 'foiled terrorist attack'

The extent of the gunfire was initially unclear, but state media reports called it a "foiled terrorist attack." 

The IRNA news agency had said in a report earlier on Thursday that there were hostages at the two sites, but it did not provide more details.

The Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl, which says it seeks greater rights for the ethnic Baluch minority, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan has been the site of occasional deadly clashes involving the militant group, armed drug smugglers and Iranian security forces.

In December, militants killed nearly a dozen police officers in an attack on a police station in the province. The attack was also claimed by the Jaish al-Adl group.

The area is one of the least developed parts of Iran. Relations between the predominantly Sunni Muslim residents of the region and Iran's Shiite theocracy have long been strained.  

rm/ab (AP, Reuters)