Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence has announced the arrest of 39 individuals carrying out acts of sabotage and terror on behalf of the US and Israel during the foreign-backed riots that swept the country in January.

In a statement issued on Monday, the ministry said the agents operated in eight separate cells and were identified and arrested by Iranian intelligence forces in Qazvin Province in northwestern Iran.

The statement said those arrested had set fire to residential homes, major commercial centers, banks, private vehicles and a petrol station, as well as looted shops and government buildings.

The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence said ten of the detainees killed several Basij volunteer forces who confronted them as they attempted to set fire to a petrol station and prevent them from damaging public property and private vehicles.

The ministry added that a significant number of firearms, bladed weapons and bottles of alcoholic beverages were seized from those arrested.

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In January, peaceful protests erupted among merchants in Tehran and other Iranian cities over economic hardships exacerbated by years of illegal Western sanctions.

Authorities acknowledged the legitimacy of the protesters’ demands, yet the demonstrations were hijacked by rioters backed by the US and Israeli regimes, who incited vandalism and chaos.

Iran's Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs reported in a statement that 3,117 individuals had died during the riots.

The report clarified that among those killed, 2,427 were innocent civilians and members of security forces.

According to the statement, many of the victims were bystanders and protesters who lost their lives due to gunfire from organized terrorist groups.