A police officer was killed during a three-hour clash with militants in the south-eastern region of Iran on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media.
The attack targeted a checkpoint in Rask County, Baluchestan province, and was claimed by an opposition Baluchi faction.
The incident unfolded in an exchange of gunfire between forces from a police station in Rask and members of an armed group, resulting in the death of one policeman, as reported by the IRNA news agency.
Ahmad Vahidi, Iran's Minister of Interior, confirmed that an investigation has been initiated to probe the incident.
The opposition group, Jaish Al Adl (Army of Justice), claimed responsibility for the attack through a brief statement on its Telegram channel, asserting it caused "significant damage and human casualties."
The clash reportedly lasted for three hours, with the assailants retreating upon the arrival of security reinforcements, as per IRNA.
Salim Kadkhoda, the governor of Rask, informed IRNA that the group failed to infiltrate the police station during the confrontation.
Earlier reports from the Halvash local website mentioned explosions around the Rask base, with attackers blocking routes leading to the confrontation site.
The incident follows a recent attack in the city of Kerman that killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores, some still in critical condition.
In mid-December, 11 Iranian police officers were killed in an attack on a police station in Rask, with Jaish Al Adl claiming responsibility.
The group is active in the border province with Pakistan and Afghanistan and has conducted multiple assaults on Iranian security forces in recent years.
In February 2019, the group claimed responsibility for an attack targeting Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) personnel traveling on a bus. At least 27 IRGC personnel were killed.
Baluchi opposition groups in the province are labeled as "terrorists" or "anti-revolution" by Iran, while Iranian state media refer to them as "extremist groups." These groups claim to defend Baluchi national rights.
The Pakistani Iranian borders are a scene for clashes between the security forces and the Baluchi opposition, with accusations against Islamabad for supporting the latter.
Tensions in Baluchestan escalated last year after protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in Tehran and Kurdish provinces. It also witnessed protests over the alleged rape of a teenage girl by a police officer.
The unrest has resulted in over 500 deaths in Iran since the start of the demonstrations, with at least 130 from Baluchestan, the country's poorest province with a Sunni majority.
The residents of Baluchestan complain about perceived ethnic and religious discrimination in the region.
Iran Human Rights (IHR), headquartered in Oslo, revealed that Baluchestan witnesses the highest number of executions among Iran's 31 provinces.
