Monday, October 19, 2009

Iran Leaders Call for Retaliation after the Bombing

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in Tehran today that the government will punish the terrorists behind the suicide bombing that killed six IRGS commanders, including senior general officers, and nearly 40 others in southeastern Iran on Sunday.

Khamenei also said that Iran’s “enemies can’t harm the unity” among Iranians. A militant Sunni group operating in Iran-Pakistan border area of Baluchistan has taken responsibility for the attack. The group, Jundallah, along with another Sunni militant group operating in Kurdistan, PJAK, have waged armed campaign against the IRGC for the past three years. Sunnis are minority in Shia-run Iran, but constitute the majorities of the population in underdeveloped provinces of Sistan-Baluchistan and Kurdistan.

The victims of the bombing included two employees of the state-run broadcasting service, IRIB, and number of tribal chiefs who were due to hold a meeting with the Guard commanders to promote Shia-Sunni unity.

Meanwhile, IRGC Commander Maj. Gen. Ali Jafari told reporters today in Tehran that Iran would “retaliate” against the US and Britain for backing the perpetrators of the attack. Gen. Jafari said that the security officials had presented documents indicating direct ties between Jundallah and US, British and Pakistani intelligence.

“Behind this scene are the American and British intelligence apparatus, and there will have to be retaliatory measures to punish them,” Jafari said [ISNA, 19 October].

“The base of the terrorists and rebels has not been in Iran. They are trained by America and Britain in some of the neighboring countries,” added IRGC Ground Forces Commander Brig. Gen. Pakpour, whose deputy, Gen. Shushtari, was killed in the attack.

6 comments:

Pedestrian said...

What's really sad Mark is that I spoke to a number of friends from school (in Iran) today and they all said the same thing: "a lot" (don't know how many that means, or what % of the student body) "of students were happy about the bombings."

Very sad, and potentially dangerous if indeed a majority feel that way (which I doubt.)

papa said...

@Pedestrian "students were happy about the bombings" perhaps you should talk to the ret of IRI population. Move away from North Tehran or whereever you are and talk to decent hardworking population. In the mean time here is an article for your reading pleasure!

Anonymous said...

@ Pedestzrian

If being happy about killing people regardless of whom has any meaning, then it means somebody needs to go on the couch.

I might be very critical of many issues about Iran, But killing those who defended Iran and safeguarded its territorial integrity against an Iraq supported and armed by the World
is cowardly.(these people were in sistan in a meeting to promote understanding amongst a religous minority and majority.)

The dead soldiers ideology might not be compatible with many of us, but at least he did what he believed in and that is more than us who live and pay our taxes outside Iran and are hobby Iran specialists.

Real patriotic Iranians, never are happy when a coutryman falls, regardless of whom.

God bless Iran and all Iranians

Anonymous said...

Those who are happy are the same who were born in Iran then went to Iraq and elsewhere and started helping the Iraqis kill Iranians at the midst of a national war
They have no longer Iranian souls and they number only a few thousand.
dear pedestrian those so called friends of you are either imaginary friends or they need a good spanking

Anonymous said...

@ papa
Blog is quoting Shariati, and that was 1971 (before revolution) now it is 2009 (after revolutio) and the times changed.
Perhaps some Iranians (mind you, I think not many) see many Sepah members as "others", a people who already killed Iranians so they lost their claim to calling themselves Iranians. Like the MKO in some way.
Think on it.
*****
As for promoting "understanding" in Baluchistan - why IRGC is needed for promoting an understanding? Don't you think it ridiculous that top commanders are promoting "understanding".
I myself condemn what jundallah did, but why Iranians don't condemn other similar organizations when they kill soldiers, but - on the contrary - praise them? How does it differs?

Anonymous said...

to the last anonym...

have you ever been in Irans Baluchistan ?? its worse than southern Colombia..
only an organized army and other forms of militias get people to sit down.
That shows your critic is politically
motivated ,or lack of real knowledge about Iran... or (keep calling your friends and I am sure they will tell you more.. lol)
You "Sir" belong to the "Anti" group, who will stay anti whatever is governing Iran.