Baku, Azerbaijan, May 25
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iran's Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli has warned the Islamic State (IS) group to stay 40 kilometers away from the Islamic Republic border with Iraq.
As it was already announced the 40-kilometers zone from Iran's border inside Iraq is the Islamic Republic's redline, Rahmani Fazli said, adding if the group enter the zone Tehran will take necessary measures to confront them.
He further said that Iran has full control over its borders and no security related incident has occurred within the borders, Iran's Fars news agency reported May 25.
Rahmani Fazli also emphasized that more measures should be taken in border areas to improve the security. He called on regional countries to cooperate in fighting terrorist groups.
Involving foreign countries such as the US on the issue has no effect so far, while they pursue their own interests, Rahmani Fazli added.
"They have failed to prevent the terrorist forces' advance," he underlined.
The Iranian Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan said on May 24 that last year the IS group intended to enter Iran, adding, they had forecasted caches of ammunition and troops in Iran's border provinces and were ready to launch terrorist operations, explosions and riots after entering Iran's territory.
The Islamic Republic army organized five combat brigades in less than three days to confront the group, the commander stated.
Pourdastan also unveiled that Iran sent troops and reconnaissance helicopters 40 kilometers within Iraq and registered artillery fire at that time.
In recent days Iranian officials have accused the US of having some plans to bring the regional insecurity to Iran's borders.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameni said May 20 that the Islamic Republic enemies are trying to bring the proxy war to Iranian borders.
"We have received some information that our enemies are working with some Persian Gulf governments to bring the proxy war to Iranian borders," Ayatollah Khameni said.
In similar statements Mohsen Rezaee, secretary of Iran's Expediency Council said the US and Israel have plans in which they seek to bring the insecurity to the Islamic Republic borders.
Edited by CN
Follow the author on Twitter: @UmidNiayesh