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A visit to southeastern Iran by a senior Iranian officer illustrates Tehran’s security concerns over anti-regime militancy in southeastern Iran. Armed Forces General Staff (AFGS) Chief Major General Mohammad Bagheri inspected air, naval, land, and air defense forces in Sistan and Baluchistan Province from May 21 to 22. Bagheri stated during his visit that “takfiri groups”—a term used by Iran to refer to Salafi-Jihadi organizations like Jaish al Adl—threaten the security of Sistan and Baluchistan Province. Jaish al Adl is a Baloch Salafi-jihadi armed group that has historically targeted Iranian security personnel and infrastructure in Sistan and Baluchistan Province. Iran has taken steps to target anti-regime militant groups following an uptick in anti-regime militancy in southeastern Iran since December 2023.

Bagheri may have also met with air defense and naval units to discuss new Iranian operations planning for the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz and threats to Iran’s nuclear facilities. Bagheri previously traveled to southern Iran on May 12 to discuss new deployments to the Nazeat Islands as part of a new Iranian operational concept for attacking vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Likely Iranian and Iranian-linked vessels have behaved abnormally in and around the straits in recent days after his visit by issuing distress calls and harassing merchant vessels. Bagheri could have discussed similar issues during this visit. Senior Iranian officials also expressed concern about US B2 Spirit stealth bomber deployments to Diego Garcia in March 2025, which Iranian officials appeared to interpret as a threat to Iran’s nuclear facilities. Several Iranian officers have traveled throughout Iran to inspect air defenses in April and May 2025, which CTP-ISW assesses is a part of Iranian preparations to defend against an Israeli or US strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

Key Takeaways:

• A visit to southeastern Iran by a senior Iranian officer illustrates Tehran’s security concerns over anti-regime militancy in southeastern Iran. The officer was probably meeting with air defense and naval units to discuss new Iranian operations planning for the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz and threats to Iran’s nuclear facilities.

• Recent Iranian statements suggest that key Iranian leaders are considering moving nuclear material to unspecified “secure” locations to protect nuclear material from a strike after recent leaks about a potential Israeli strike. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is currently able to monitor Iranian enriched uranium stockpiles stored in declared sites. 

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