Iranian regime forces have arrested at least 40 citizens in a joint operation in the flashpoint city of Zahedan in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province.

Halvash website that covers Baluchestan events said the operation was jointly carried out by the Ministry of Intelligence, the Revolutionary Guard, and the provincial police forces while the detainees have been transferred to an unknown place.

IRNA news agency quoted an “informed source” saying the detainees were “criminals and armed robbers of Zahedan."

However, activists say almost 30 were arrested in a sports field in Karimabad region of Zahedan.

Within the past thirteen weeks, Zahedan, a Sunni Baluch city, has been the scene of weekly protests against the regime on Fridays.

The Bloody Friday in Zahedan took place September 30, when security forces killed at least 93 people, and injured hundreds more as civilians protested.

The US-based Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported Monday that at least 516 people, including 70 children have been killed by the regime forces during the nationwide protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in mid-September.

While the Islamic Republic has not provided accurate figures of those detained in the protests, the watchdog went on to say that at least 19,204 protesters have been arrested including 687 students.

HRANA added that 161 cities and more than 144 universities across Iran have also been the scenes of anti-government protests.