“Three members of a network linked to counterrevolutionary groups, who intended to disturb national security, destroy and set fire on public and military installations using Molotov cocktails, were identified and arrested in the city of Ardebil,” a statement said.

In addition in “planning acts of vandalism, the network contacted anti-iranian media outlets and created many social media accounts to guide rioters and spread lies.”

Several rioter leaders, who were inciting riots, writing slogans, distributing leaflets, as well as encouraging youth to attack and insult clerics, were also arrested on Thursday in the province of Qom.

The IRGC Office of Public Relations announced on Thursday the identification and arrest of leaders of a number of online riot networks, who played a leading role in instigating riots to disrupt the country’s security.

In recent weeks, vandals, supported by Western countries, took advantage of the death of a 22-year-old Iranian girl in mid-September to disrupt public order, causing riots and attacks against Iranian law enforcement.

jrr/llp/jcm/ynr