The ringleader of a terrorist group has been killed in clashes with Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Forces in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan-and-Baluchestan, a provincial security official says.

Sistan-and-Baluchestan Province's deputy governor for security affairs, Ali Asghar Mir-Shekari, said on Monday that Molavi Jalil Ghanbar Zehi, the ringleader of the so-called Ansar al-Furqan group, had been killed during the recent clashes with the IRGC’s Qods Headquarters in Qasr-e Qand Heights.

He added that the body of this “international terrorist” along with four of his deputies and elements is now in the hands of the IRGC Ground Forces.

The official noted that Iranian security officials had been conducting measures over the past 25 years to arrest this terrorist due to his numerous crimes committed in the southeastern Iranian border areas.

Commander of IRGC’s Ground Force Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour told Fars news agency on Sunday that IRGC forces had managed to kill all members of the Takfiri terrorist outfit and completely dismantle it after the start of the operation in the town of Qasr-e Qand on Thursday.

He added that the identity of the terrorists had not been determined yet, adding, “The terrorists were members of the Ansar al-Furqan group and their identities are under investigation.”

The IRGC said in a Thursday statement that its Qods Headquarters had dispatched its units to Qasr-e Qand after obtaining information about the presence of a Takfiri terrorist group in the area and engaged the group in mountainous areas.

“During the anti-terror operation, the IRGC's Qods Headquarters fighters destroyed a vehicle laden with 600 kilograms of explosives, and seized five bombs ready to be used in suicide attacks, 700 kilograms of explosives, tens of thousands of bullets and a number of weapons and ammunition,” the statement read.