Iranian authorities said three people were killed on Tuesday during a security operation near Zahedan in southeastern Iran, as separate reports pointed to heavy fighting between forces of the Islamic Republic and armed men elsewhere in Sistan-Baluchestan province.

Axar.az reports, citing Iran International, that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said security forces located and destroyed what it described as a militant safe house in the Chah Ahmad-Kurin area near Zahedan.

The outlet said three people had been killed and that the operation was continuing. It said a final casualty toll would be announced after what it described as a clearing operation was completed.

Tasnim identified those killed in its headline as members of Jaish al-Adl, an armed Baluch group that has carried out attacks on security forces, but did not name them or provide evidence establishing their affiliation. It gave no information about possible casualties among Islamic Republic forces.