TEHRAN, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Iranian security forces have arrested suspects of student poisonings cases in five provinces, a deputy interior minister said Tuesday.
Majid Mir-Ahmadi said during a live interview with state TV IRIB that authorities are looking closely into different aspects and dimensions of the cases, promising that the results will be announced.
He revealed that some cases were found to be the result of "unhostile" moves, and those parties at fault have received necessary warnings and instructions to prevent reoccurrence.
Investigations into the cases are underway with the participation of ministries of interior, intelligence, health, and education as well as police and intelligence forces, among other departments, Mir-Ahmadi noted.
In the past three months, more than 700 students in over 30 schools across the country have fallen victim to mysterious poisoning incidents, with most of them soon released from the hospital after receiving treatment, according to IRNA.
The first case was reported on Nov. 30 in Qom Province, where 18 schoolgirls were sent to hospitals after showing poisoning symptoms, it reported.
Later, other schools in Qom, the western provinces of Lorestan, Ardabil and Kermanshah, and even the capital Tehran reported similar cases, it added.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Monday urged law enforcement to pursue anyone responsible, vowing to hand maximum punishment out to the perpetrators. ■
