Nine Pakistani workers were fatally shot by unidentified assailants in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province near the border with Pakistan on Saturday, despite recent efforts by both countries to ease tensions following deadly cross-border incidents.

According to Iran’s Mehr news agency, witnesses reported that "this morning unknown armed men killed nine non-Iranians in a house in the Sirkan neighbourhood of Saravan city" in Sistan-Baluchestan province. Three other Pakistanis sustained injuries in the indiscriminate attack. 

As of now, no group or individual has claimed responsibility for the assault.

The victims hailed from various regions in Punjab, including Multan, Muzaffargarh, and Bahawalpur districts, as stated in reports.

Deputy governor of the province, Alireza Marhamati, disclosed to the official IRNA news agency that survivors recounted how "three armed people shot at the foreigners after entering their residence and fled the scene." 

Iranian media detailed that the attack occurred in the early hours of the morning while the victims were asleep. All suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the scene.

Among the deceased were identified individuals such as Mohammad Azar, Ashfaq, Shoaib, and Usman, including two brothers.

Furthermore, five victims hailed from the Alipur tehsil of Muzaffargarh district, confirmed Deputy Commissioner Mian Usman Ali. They had been residing in Iran for eight years under work visas.

Following the tragic news, relatives of the deceased staged protests outside the assistant commissioner’s office in Alipur, demanding the Pakistani government's intervention to repatriate the bodies of their loved ones to Muzaffargarh.

The victims from Alipur were identified as Muhammad Asif, Muhammad Asghar, Muhammad Akhtar, Muhammad Shoaib, and Shabbir Arain, according to sources.

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