Iran dismantled more than 20 terrorist groups that had planned to detonate bombs and cause insecurity across the country during the last Iranian calendar year (ended on March 19), Iran’s intelligence minister says.

According to Press TV, addressing worshipers at the weekly Friday Prayers in Tehran, Mahmoud Alavi added that a number of would-be bombers were killed or arrested during several sting operations by Iranian intelligence forces.

He said that a large amount of weapons and ammunition was confiscated from the terrorists.

The minister reaffirmed that Iran enjoys high security while insecurity has been prevailing in most countries in the Middle East and across the world.

“Despite plots by intelligence services of hostile countries and terrorist groups to [cause] security challenge [in Iran], the Islamic Republic experienced a year full of security and peace,” Alavi said.

The Iranian intelligence minister emphasized that the country witnessed no instance of insecurity.

He said Iran’s intelligence forces also arrested several teams supporting terrorist groups and uncovered centers where terrorist operatives were manufacturing explosives.

The forces killed the ringleader and most members of the Ansar al-Forqan terrorist group in the southeastern parts of the country, he added.

On April 22, the head of the Ansar al-Forqan terrorist group, Hesham Azizi, and two other members were killed in a successful security operation by Iranian security forces in the Southeastern Province of Sistan and Baluchestan. Two other members of the terrorist group were also captured during the operation.