Report: 14 Iranian border guards killed in clashes

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's official news agency says armed men have killed 14 border guards in clashes near the frontier with Pakistan.

IRNA said authorities were investigating to determine whether the attackers were drug smugglers or armed opposition groups, both of which have occasionally ambushed Iranian troops.

The clashes took place Friday night in a mountainous region outside Saravan, a town in southeast Iran on the border with Pakistan. IRNA said five other Iranian guards were wounded in the attack.

Iran lies on a major drug route between Afghanistan and Europe, as well as the Persian Gulf states.

Ethnic Baluch armed groups also operate in the area.