As for Jundullah, analyst Ali Nourizadeh of the Arab Iranian Studies Center in London says the group has gone far beyond its stated goals of greater recognition from the government of Tehran.

"I think we are now dealing with an organization, which considers itself like some organization like the Taliban," said Nourizadeh. "They want to liberate Baluchistan and they want to fight the regime. But I believe if the regime [would] be a bit kinder with them, to release their prisoners and to talk to them, they will stop turning to violence."

Sistan-Baluchistan is not the only area of concern for Iranian leaders. Iran, despite its seemingly monolithic government, has an extremely diverse citizenry. Ethnic Persians make up only about half of the population. Nearly a quarter of Iranians are ethnic Azeris, while there are many smaller ethnic groups, including Kurds, Arabs, Baluch and Turkmen.

Analyst Nourizadeh says those other groups have not shown the tendency toward violence that the Balochi Jundallah has displayed.

"But it may encourage some of those minorities, among minorities those who believe in separation, separate state and all of this, in some areas of Iran to raise arms. And that is why I am worried about minorities turning to arms in order to achieve their goals," said Nourizadeh.

Given the Iranian government's lack of dialogue with political minorities, it is far from clear what efforts it will make to reach out to the countries ethnic groups.