Ahvaz Terror Attack Extension of Anti-Iran Plots by US Puppets in Region: Khamenei

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says the terrorist attack in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz was the continuation of plots hatched by US stooges in the region to create insecurity in the country, adding that Iran’s intelligence services must swiftly find the accomplices of the “criminals” behind the attack and put them on trial.

In a message on Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his condolences over the terrorist attack on a military parade in Ahvaz earlier in the day which killed at least 25 people and injured more than 60 others.

The Leader said the “tragic and sorrowful” incident in Ahvaz and the killing of people by mercenary terrorists once again exposed the cruelty of the enemies of the Iranian nation, Press TV reported.

 These savage mercenaries who open fire on innocent civilians, including women and children, are linked with the same liars who claim to advocate human rights, Ayatollah Khamenei added.

The Leader emphasized that the perpetrators and their cohorts could not tolerate the display of national strength in the Iranian Armed Forces.

“Their crime is the continuation of plots [hatched] by the US-led governments in the region who aim to create insecurity in our dear country,” the Leader stated.

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized that the Iranian nation would continue down their honorable path and would “overcome all hostilities like in the past.”

Iran’s Rouhani vows ‘crushing’ response to slightest threat

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the Islamic Republic will give a “crushing” response to the slightest threat against the country.

The Iranian president made the remarks during separate phone calls with Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli and governor of the southwestern Iranian province of Khuzestan on Saturday, following a terrorist attack on a military parade in the provincial capital of Ahvaz.

“Those who are providing these terrorists with propaganda and intelligence support must be held accountable,” Rouhani said.

He expressed his sympathy with the bereaved families of the victims of the terrorist attack and ordered Iranian officials to adopt immediate measures to treat the injured.

The Iranian chief executive further gave necessary orders to the Intelligence Ministry and all security and military bodies to immediately identify the terrorists and their ringleaders and also to decisively deal with all those who committed the crime.

Ahvaz terror attack, malicious move: Velayati

A senior adviser to the Leader also said that the “terrorist and brutal” attack in Ahvaz and the killing of defenseless Iranian people were another show of a “blind and vile measure” by criminals who have targeted Iran’s power.

Ali Akbar Velayati, the Leader’s adviser on international affairs, added that resistance of the Iranian nation and the Islamic establishment in the face of terrorist groups and extremist and Takfiri movements has led to the failure of all plots backed by the US, the Israeli regime and some of their reactionary allies in the region.

He emphasized that the Islamic Republic would give a strong response to the attack.

Iran summons European envoys over terrorist attacks in Ahvaz

Iranian authorities have summoned ambassadors of the Netherlands and Denmark as well as chargé d’affaires of the British embassy in Tehran after terrorists with alleged links to the European countries carried out attacks during a military parade in the southwestern city of Ahvaz on Saturday.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said that the department for European affairs of the ministry summoned the three diplomats separately at the evening time on Saturday to declare Tehran’s strong protest to the role their countries might have played to support elements who carried out the terror attacks in Ahvaz earlier in the day that led to the killing of some 25 people.

The al-Ahvaziya terror group, whose recruits are believed to be scattered in several European countries, including in the Netherlands and in Denmark, claimed responsibility for the attack in Ahvaz.

Qassemi said Iran expected the two European countries to extradite the “criminal perpetrators” of the terrorist act in Ahvaz.

 “It was reiterated to the ambassadors of the Netherlands and Denmark that the Islamic Republic of Iran had earlier warned about the residence of these individuals in these countries and has called for their arrest and prosecution,” said Qassemi in a statement, adding that the ambassadors of the two countries declared that their governments were ready to share any information with regards to the terrorists and their records.

The official said that Iranian authorities had also passed their strong note of protest to the chargé d’affaires of the British embassy in Tehran about an interview aired by a Britain-based TV channel after the attack in Ahvaz in which the spokesman of the al-Ahvaziya had condoned the terrorist act.

Qassemi said the British diplomat condemned the attack and said that he would accordingly relay Iran’s message of protest to the authorities in London.

H.M