Iranian Sunni cleric killed by unknown gunmen in country’s southeast, state media reports

DUBAI: Molavi Mohammed Anvar Rigi, the Sunni Friday prayer imam in the town of Mirjaveh on Iran’s southeastern border, was killed by unidentified gunmen on Monday, Iranian state media reported, citing local officials.

Sistan-Balochistan province, one of the country’s poorest provinces with a large Sunni Baluch population, has long experienced Islamist or ethnic militants fighting security forces or other figures loyal to Tehran.

Authorities said investigations were ongoing and urged residents to remain calm, saying the attack was aimed at undermining security and fueling sectarian divisions in the province.