Iran detains eight foreigners planning attacks

Dubai: Iranian security forces have arrested eight hardliners suspected of planning attacks to disrupt celebrations in the past week, Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi said on Saturday.
Alavi said the eight were foreigners, some of whom were linked to a leader who had been killed in Iran, IRNA reported. He did not give details of which countries they were from.
"Initial information indicates that Kalashnikovs and other equipment were obtained to carry out terrorist operations... in Tehran and several other cities under the direct guidance of persons based in neighbouring countries," Alavi was quoted by the state news agency IRNA as saying.
In August, Alavi said the leader of a militant group in southeast Iran responsible for attacks against security forces and civilian targets has been killed, although it was not immediately clear if he was person he suspected those arrested of being linked to.
On Friday, Iran's prosecutor-general Mohammad Jafar Montazeri said security forces had smashed a cell linked to IS near Tehran that wanted to "sabotage" rallies on Friday marking the anniversary of the revolution.
Iranian security forces have repeatedly announced arrests of IS militants and sympathisers.