14 IRGC members killed in explosion during mine clearance in Iran

At least 14 members of Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed and two others seriously injured in an explosion while clearing unexploded mines and ordnance in the country’s northwest.

The incident occurred near Zanjan, where an IRGC unit was conducting a search and clearance operation in a conflict-affected area, according to reports citing the state news agency IRNA.

Authorities said the team was working to identify and defuse unexploded bombs dropped during recent hostilities when an unidentified munition detonated, killing 14 personnel on the spot.

In a statement, the IRGC’s Ansar al-Mahdi Unit said the deceased members were highly trained and experienced specialists. Officials believe the area remains heavily contaminated with dangerous remnants of war, including cluster munitions and air-dropped mines.

The blast marks the deadliest incident involving IRGC personnel since a ceasefire took effect on April 8 following weeks of escalation. Despite the end of active fighting, authorities warned that unexploded ordnance continues to pose a serious risk to both civilians and security forces.

Since the conflict began in late February, nearly 15,000 unexploded bombs and mines have been cleared across affected regions, highlighting the persistent dangers in post-conflict zones.