EU Parliamentary Delegation Blocked from Speaking to Media in Tehran

Tehran-based reporters say Iranian security personnel on Sunday stopped a visiting delegation from the EU Parliament from speaking to foreign media in Tehran. The delegation, headed by Germany’s Elmer Brok, had planned a press conference at their hotel at the end of a two-day visit. Brok was also prevented from speaking to reporters outside the hotel and reporters were forced to leave. (AFP, 7 June)

The delegation had earlier met senior Iranian politicians including Majlis speaker Ali Larijani and Masoumeh Ebtekar, a deputy to president.

Photo credit: German member of the European Parliament Elmer Brok (Velentina Ursu/REF/RL)
  

FM Zarif returns to Tehran from Lausanne nuclear talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif upon his return to Tehran from successful nuclear negotiations with P5+1 conducted at Lausanne, Switzerland.

Among assigned security for Zarif's passing motorcade can be seen a supportive, waving NAJA colonel, and a NAJA brigadier general 2nd class.

NAJA is the Persian acronym for the Law Enforcement Force of Islamic Republic of Iran.

Well-wishers of Foreign Minister Zarif include a flag-bearer of the Islamic Republic, alongside regardful NAJA  second sergeant major.

Photos: Mohammad Delkesh at Tasnim News Agency

Three Members of Iran's Law Enforcement Force Killed in Baluchistan

Fars News Agency reported that three members of Islamic Republic’s Law Enforcement Force ("NAJA") were killed in the town Zahak in restive Iranian Baluchistan on Tuesday 25 November. The policemen were gunned down while on patrol. Fars said the attackers on two different vehicles approached NAJA members, opened fired and escaped from the scene. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

File photo: NAJA security force in Iran’s Sistan va Baluchistan province, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan. (FNA)

Wreckage of Iran Police Aviation Rockwell 690 Turbo Commander

Wreckage of Islamic Republic of Iran Police Force (IRIPF) Aviation Rockwell 690 Turbo Commander, dated 12OCT14 near Zahedan.

Images published by Mehr News Agency depict remains of forward fuselage section

Image provided by Mashregh News of broken-off right wing section, in a residential setting

 

File photo of Islamic Republic of Iran Police Force (IRIPF) Aviation Rockwell 690 Turbo Commander (photo: Taha Ashoori).

Iran’s NAJA Aircraft Crashes in Baluchistan

An Iranian Law Enforcement Forces (NAJA) airplane flying to the country’s restive Baluchistan province crashed in the mountainous area outside Zahedan on Saturday night, killing all seven aboard, including three NAJA commanders.

The propeller Turbo Commander airplane took off from Tehran to investigate multiple raids on border guard posts that have killed five guards since Wednesday, Fars News Agency reported. 

A border guard commander told Fars News that the plane was not downed by a missile or other weaponry.

File photo: An Aero Commander 690A turboprop, similar to the one operated by NAJA (Rockwell/Wiki)

 690A Turbo Commander aircraft

Law enforcement assemblies: Tehran, Mashad, Sari, Isfahan, Shiraz

TEHRAN

Imagery believed taken at Tehran. Foreground: IRIPF (NAJA) Special Unit, SWAT-equivalent sergeant major.

IRIPF (NAJA) Special Unit motorized section, Tehran

IRIPF (NAJA) Special Unit, SWAT-equivalent counterterrorism (CT) demonstration

IRIPF (NAJA) Special Unit, SWAT-equivalent counterterrorism (CT) force aboard Mercedes-Benz E240 police car

Foreground: what appears to be NAJA-attached army conscripts in the Border Protection Police

What appears to be contingent from the IRI Coast Guard

MASHHAD

Believed to be Mashhad: motor officer equivalent stunt demonstration

IRIPF (NAJA) Special Unit, SWAT-equivalent counterterrorism (CT) demonstration

SARI

IRIPF (NAJA) Border Protection Police contingent

IRIPF (NAJA) "Iron Man" demonstration of strength (1)

IRIPF (NAJA) "Iron Man" demonstration of strength (2)

Motor officer equivalent stunt demonstration using late model Honda CR-type dirt bike

IRIPA Bell 214A Isfahan medium-lift helicopter

IRIPF (NAJA) Iranian-built AMICO quad used for acrobatic demonstration

IRIPF (NAJA) Special Unit motorized section, Sari

What appears to be NAJA-attached army conscripts, Sari

ISFAHAN

 

IRIPF (NAJA) Special Unit motorized section, Isfahan

Motor officer equivalent stunt demonstration using vintage 90's era Suzuki TS 185

What appears to be NAJA-attached army conscripts, Isfahan

SHIRAZ

Mounted law enforcement contingent outfitted in BDUs and body armor

IRIPF (NAJA) Special Unit aboard Toyota J100 series Land Cruiser

Photos:
Abbas Pustindouz and Mostafa German at Mehr News Agency
Farhad Babaei, Nima Najafzadeh and Hossein Heidarpour at Tasnim News Agency
Mostafa Kazemi at Fars News Agency

NAJA New Year assembly, Tehran

Tehran police assembly, 21 March 2014

Sergeant major of anti-riot police forces (at right) with contingent passing Azadi Tower

NAJA anti-narcotic branch first sergeant equipped with MP5 type SMG

Brigadier General Ahmad-Reza Radan, NAJA deputy commander inspecting anti-riot special operations forces

High-performance sportbikes issued to security elements of Tehran law enforcement

NAJA Traffic Police contingent from Tehran

Dismounted motorized police saluting NAJA deputy commander aboard Safir light utilityvehicle

Photos: Ashraf Tabatabaei at FARS News Agency

Remains of slain NAJA border guards flown into Mashhad

NAJA honor guard bearing coffins of slain NAJA border protection force members, victims of terrorism

Weary NAJA border protection force pall bearer; behind him Iran Police Aviation Antonov (HESA) An-140, reg 2202 (cn 9003).

Mourners lining the procession of the slain, Shahid Hashemi Nejad Airport (MHD / OIMM) at Mashhad

IRI flag-draped coffins inside Iran Police Aviation Antonov (HESA) An-140

 

This is not the first time Iran has been the target of terrorism leading up to nuclear negotiations with the P5+1. The terror group Jundallah struck at Sistan-Baluchistan province in December 2010 during the run-up to nuclear negotiations for January 2011.

Photos: Jafar Kaboutari at MEHR News Agency

NAJA/NOPO Counter-Terror Special Forces - Video

 IRIB TV3 video of Iran NAJA/NOPO Police Counter-Terror Special Forces

Iran Military Day 2013 (2)

Artesh parades (with IRGC, Basij and NAJA participation) throughout Iran 

by Mark Pyruz

Tabriz

Left: IRIA contingent, possibly Tabriz Commando Brigade

Right: unidentified IRIADF unit

Left: BTR-60 armored personnel carrier

Right: M113 armored personnel carriers

Shiraz 

Left: Spectators atop a historic M4 Sherman medium tank

Right: IRIA BMP-2 type infantry fighting vehicle, possibly 84th Mechanized Division

Left: IRIA FV101 Scorpion armored reconnaissance vehicle, possibly 84th Mechanized Division

Right: DShK HMG gunner

Bushehr 

Left: SUU-25 illumination pods

Right: AGM-65 Maverick training round

Left: IRINA AB-212ASW medium helicopter

Right: S-200 surface-to-air missile

Mashad

Left: NAJA special operations contingent equipped with MP5 SMGs

Right: tough looking paratroopers (possibly IRGC) equipped with G3-A4 battle rifles

Left: IRIA M557 armored personnel carrier command post vehicle

Right: BTR-60 armored personnel carriers

Left: IRIA ghillie camouflage suits

Right: unidentified IRIA unit on parade with ceremonial swords

Dezful 

Left: Mercedes-Benz L-series transport towing Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon anti-aircraft gun

Right: Type 60 (D-20) 152 mm towed gun-howitzer and Type 59-1 130 mm towed field gun

Gonbad-e Qabus 

Left: IRGC unit parading on Artesh military day, likely Neynava Corps

Right: IRGC BMP-1 IFVs followed by T-55 variant MBTs

Ahvaz 

Left: unidentified Commando unit equipped with AK type assault rifles

Right: Safir tactical vehicles equipped with 107 mm rocket launchers

Torbat Heydariyeh

Left: young BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile operator

Right: unidentified IRIA unit

Aran va Bidgol, Isfahan

Left: unidentified IRIA colonel addressing parade crowd

Right: Mercedes-Benz L-series carrier with Zelzal heavy artillery rocket

Orumiyeh

Left: KrAZ-255 troop transport

Right: NAJA police cars, Renault Megane (assembled locally by Pars Khodro)

Zanjan

Left: KrAZ-6322 type (6x6) truck transport

Right: IRIA M557 armored personnel carrier command post vehicle

Karaj

Left: Type 59-1 130 mm towed field gun

Right: Safir tactical vehicles equipped with BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile systems

Kermanshah

Left: IRIAA pilot, first lieutenant

Right: IRIA M109A1 self-propelled howitzer and M60A1 medium tank

Birjand

Left: Sepehr 3/4 ton tactical vehicle towing Zu-23-2 AA gun

Right: Toyota Land Cruiser adapted 122 mm 8-tube rocket launcher

Mazandaran

Left: contingent unidentified IRIADF unit equipped with G3 battle rifles

Right: IRIA colonel and second lieutenant 

Left: unidentified Basij Ashura battalion contingent

Right: NAJA riot control equipped contingent

Rasht

Left: unidentified IRGC officer contingent

Right: chemical defense decontamination vehicle

Ardebil

Left: IRIA RPG-7 type gunners, possibly 40th Independent Infantry Brigade

Right: military band conductor wearing MARPAT woodland-type BDUs

Maragh

Left: IRIA M1954 (M-46) 130 mm towed field gun

Right: NAJA police officer contingent

Sarab

Left: Student Basij and likely Artesh officer's child participating in parade

Right: unidentified IRIA unit contingent armed with G3-A3 battle rifles 

Sanandaj

Left: Kurdish Basij equipped with AK type assault rifles

Right: Toyota vehicles belonging to a NAJA border protection unit

Photos: Islamic Republic News Agency
Note: IRNA photography may be shared by various locations