Senior IRGC Commanders Martyred in Southeastern Iran

29  Shawwal  1430 /  Sunday 18 Oct 2009 / 26 Mehr 1388

TEHRAN (FNA)-

A number of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders were martyred in a terrorist attack in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan Sunday morning.

During the attack, about 20 people including IRGC commanders and also a number of tribal leaders of the region were martyred.

Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) ground force Brigadier General Nourali Shoushtari, Sistan and Balouchestan province's IRGC commander General Mohammadzadeh, Iranshahr Corps commander, Sarbaz Corps commander and Amiralmoemenin Brigade commander are among the martyrs.

The commanders had traveled to the southeastern province to provide the ground for the "Shiite-Sunni Tribes' Solidarity Conference".

29 People Killed in Suicide Attack in Southeastern Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)-

The death toll of the Sunday morning terrorist attack in the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan province in Iran rose to 29, official sources said.

"Thus far, the number of the martyrs of the terrorist attack in Pishin district in the town of Sarbaz has reached 29 while 28 others have been wounded," Deputy Governor General of Sistan and Balouchestan province for Law-Enforcement and Security Affairs Jalal Sayyah told FNA.

Sayyah further pointed out that since a number of the wounded are currently in critical conditions, the number of martyrs would likely change in coming hours.

He also confirmed that Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) ground force Brigadier General Nourali Shoushtari, Sistan and Balouchestan province's IRGC commander General Mohammadzadeh, Iranshahr Corps commander, Sarbaz Corps commander and Amiralmoemenin Brigade commander are among the martyrs.

The commanders had traveled to the southeastern province to provide the ground for the "Shiite-Sunni Tribes' Solidarity Conference".

DM: Terrorists Seeking to Undermine Iranians' Solidarity

TEHRAN (FNA)-

The Sunday morning suicide attack on a number of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders who aimed to reinvigorate regional security shows that terrorists are fearful of unity and solidarity between the Iranian people and officials, the Iranian Defense Minister said.

"Targeting a meeting which was held to consolidate unity and boost regional security and tranquility with Sistan and Balouchestan tribal leaders in attendance shows that anti-revolutionary elements and their supporters are fearful of solidarity and unity among the local people, officials and the armed forces," Brigadier General Hassan Vahidi said in a message released on Sunday on the occasion of the martyrdom of a number of senior IRGC commanders in a suicide attack in southeastern Iran this morning.

The IRGC commanders had traveled to the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan to provide the ground for the "Shiite-Sunni Tribes' Solidarity Conference"

At least 29 people, including Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force Brigadier General Nourali Shoushtari, Sistan and Balouchestan province's IRGC commander General Mohammadzadeh, Iranshahr Corps commander, Sarbaz Corps commander and Amiralmo'menin Brigade commander are among the martyrs.

In another part of his message, Vahidi underscored that the terrorists would never attain their ill-fated goals, "rather this terrorist measure would strengthen the resolve of the Iranian people and officials to accelerate their plans and measures for providing security, tranquility and development".

He also expressed his condolences to Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, IRGC commanders, Armed Forces, Iranian nation and the bereaved families of the victims over the martyrdom of the commanders and people in the attack.

MP Takes Jundollah Responsible for Sunday Suicide Attack

TEHRAN (FNA)-

The Sunday terrorist attack in southeastern Iran which caused martyrdom of at least 29 commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and tribal leaders is similar to the attacks carried out by the terrorist gang of Abdolmalek Rigi, an Iranian legislator said.

Rigi's Jundollah group, a US-backed notorious terrorist group, is responsible for carrying out several cases of kidnapping, drug-trafficking and killing innocent people in Sistan and Balouchestan province in southeastern Iran.

Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) ground force Brigadier General Nourali Shoushtari and the other senior provincial commanders martyred during the suicide attack "were striving to establish durable peace and security in the region through new methods", Peiman Forouzesh told reporters after an open session of the parliament today.

"Such terrorist attacks show that those against the Revolution and the Islamic Republic cannot accept such innovative measures adopted for the (establishment of) durable security in the region," added Forouzesh, who represents people of Zahedan, capital of Sistan and Balouchestan province, in the parliament.

At least 29 people, including senior IRGC commanders and tribal leaders of the region, were martyred in the terrorist attack.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders had traveled to the southeastern Sistan and Balouchestan province to provide the ground for the 'Shiite-Sunni Tribes' Solidarity Conference'.

Official sources confirmed that Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) ground force Brigadier General Nourali Shoushtari, Sistan and Balouchestan province's IRGC commander General Mohammadzadeh, Iranshahr Corps commander, Sarbaz Corps commander and Amiralmoemenin Brigade commander are among the martyrs.

Judiciary Chief: Terrorist Attacks Unable to Affect Shi'i-Sunni Solidarity

TEHRAN (FNA)-

 Iranian Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani on Sunday condemned the terrorist attack on a number of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders this morning, and said such attacks could never leave a negative impact on the solidarity between the Shiites and Sunnis in Iran.

"Such cowardly acts will not have any effect on the trend of solidarity between the Shiites and Sunnis, rather they will strengthen the Islamic Republic of Iran's will for establishing durable security and development," Larijani said in a gathering of high-ranking judiciary officials here in Tehran today.

He also extended his condolences over the martyrdom of Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) ground force Brigadier General Nourali Shoushtari and Sistan and Balouchestan province's IRGC commander General Mohammadzadeh in the Sunday morning terrorist attack.

A number of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders who had traveled to the southeastern province of Sistan and Balouchestan to provide the ground for the 'Shiite-Sunni Tribes' Solidarity Conference' were martyred in the terrorist attack.

During the attack, about 29 people, including IRGC commanders and also a number of tribal leaders of the region were martyred.

Larijani urged all the law enforcement, security and judiciary forces to keep vigilant to defuse enemies' plots which, he said, aim to harm the security of the country through such terrorist attacks.

Larijani Blames US for Terrorist Attack on IRGC Commanders

29  Shawwal  1430 /  Sunday 18 Oct 2009 / 26 Mehr 1388

TEHRAN (FNA)-

Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said that the terrorist attack on a number of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders in southeastern Iran this morning resulted from the US double-standard approach towards terrorism.

"If we review the past, there have been many secret and public reports on the US connections and aids to the terrorists in the province (Sistan and Balouchestan) and this shows Americans' enmity towards Iran's progress," Larijani told reporters before leaving the country for Geneva.

An Iranian parliamentary delegation headed by Larijani left Tehran for Geneva, Switzerland Sunday morning to attend the 121st meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Larijani also reiterated that Iran considers the recent terrorist attack as a result of the US actions against Iran's national interests.

During the attack, about 57 people including IRGC commanders and also a number of tribal leaders of the region were wounded or martyred.

Lieutenant Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) ground force Brigadier General Nourali Shoushtari, Sistan and Balouchestan province's IRGC commander General Mohammadzadeh, Iranshahr Corps commander, Sarbaz Corps commander and Amiralmoemenin Brigade commander are among the martyrs.

The commanders had traveled to the southeastern province to provide the ground for the "Shi'i-Sunni Tribes' Solidarity Conference".

Iran bombing kills 5 Revolutionary Guard leaders

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI and BRIAN MURPHY Associated Press Writers

Oct 18, 2009,

4:41 PM EDT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) --

A suicide bomber killed five senior commanders of the powerful Revolutionary Guard and at least 37 others Sunday near the Pakistani border.

The attack - which also left dozens wounded - was the most high-profile strike against security forces in an outlaw region of armed tribal groups, drug smugglers and Sunni rebels known as Jundallah, or Soldiers of God.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promised sharp retaliation. But a sweeping offensive by authorities is unlikely.

Iranian officials have been reluctant to open full-scale military operations in the southeastern border zone, fearing it could become a hotspot for sectarian violence with the potential to draw in militants from nearby Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The region's top prosecutor, Mohammad Marzieh, was quoted by the semi-official ISNA news agency as saying Jundallah claimed responsibility for the blast in the Pishin district near the Pakistani border.

There was no immediate statement directly from the group, which has carried out sporadic kidnappings and attacks in recent years - including targeting the Revolutionary Guard - to press their claims of persecution in the government and officials.

In May, Jundallah said it sent a suicide bomber into a mosque in the southeastern city of Zahedan, killing 25 worshippers.

The latest attack, however, would mark the group's highest-level target. It also raised questions about how the attacker breached security around such a top delegation from the Revolutionary Guard - the country's strongest military force, which is directly linked to the ruling clerics under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The official Islamic Republic News Agency said the victims included the deputy commander of the Guard's ground forces, Gen. Noor Ali Shooshtari, as well as a chief provincial Guard commander, Rajab Ali Mohammadzadeh. The others killed were Guard members or tribal leaders, it said.

The agency quoted the provincial forensics director, Abbas Amian, as saying 42 bodies had been handed over to his department.

More than two dozen others were wounded, state radio reported.

The commanders were entering a sports complex to meet tribal leaders to discuss Sunni-Shi'i cooperation when the attacker detonated a belt fitted with explosives, IRNA said.

Ahmadinejad - who counts on support from the Revolutionary Guard - vowed to strike back.

"The criminals will soon get the response for their inhuman crimes," IRNA quoted him as saying.

But controlling the scrubland and arid hills along the southeastern borders is a huge challenge that has been out of Iran's reach.

Drug traffickers ferry opium and other narcotics through the cross-border badlands - a key source of income for the Taliban in Afghanistan and the ethnic Baluchi tribes that straddle the three-nation region and include members of Jundallah. Iran has pleaded for more international help to cut off the drug routes and criminal gangs.

Iran also has accused Jundallah of receiving support from al-Qaida and the Taliban, though some analysts who have studied the group dispute such a link.

"There is no evidence of outside help for Jundallah from wider militant networks," said Mustafa Alani, director of security and terrorism studies at the Gulf Research Center in Dubai. "It's a homegrown group that moves across the borders within fellow Baluchi tribes. It is very hard to control the border."

In an attempt to boost security in the region, Iran in April put the Revolutionary Guard directly in control of the Sistan-Baluchistan Province in Iran's southeastern corner.

The 120,000-strong Guard also controls Iran's missile program, guards its nuclear facilities and has its own ground, naval and air units.

The Revolutionary Guard led the blanket crackdown on dissident after Ahmadinejad's disputed re-election in June. But the attack Sunday appeared to have no link to the political showdowns.

State television accused Britain of supporting Jundallah, without providing any evidence.

The Revolutionary Guard blamed the attack on what it called the "global arrogance," a reference to the United States.

On the eve of talks about Tehran's nuclear program, Washington was quick to react.

State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said the United States condemned what he called an "act of terrorism." Reports of alleged U.S. involvement are "completely false," he said.

Iran's parliamentary speaker, Ali Larijani, told lawmakers that the bombing was aimed at further destabilizing the uneasy border region with Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"The intention of the terrorists was definitely to disrupt security in Sistan-Baluchistan Province," Larijani said.

Iranian officials summoned Pakistan's charge d'affairs in Tehran to lodge allegations that "terrorists" use bases in Pakistan to carry out attacks against Iran, IRNA reported.

In Quetta, Pakistan, police official Akbar Sanjrani said Iran had closed at least one border crossing. He said Iranian authorities did not give a reason for blocking the route, but Sanjrani speculated it was related to the bombing.

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman, Abdul Basit, also rejected Iranian claims that Jundallah's leader is in Pakistan.

"We are struggling to eradicate the menace of terrorism," Basit told Geo TV.

The group also has claimed responsibility for a February 2007 car bombing that killed 11 members of the Revolutionary Guard near Zahedan.

Despite Iran's claims of an al-Qaida link, Chris Zambelis, a Washington-based risk management consultant who has studied Jundallah, said in a recent article that there is no evidence al-Qaida is supporting the group. He does note, however, that the group has begun to use the kinds of suicide bombings associated with the global terror network.

"Jundallah's contacts with the Taliban are most likely based on jointly profiting from the illicit trade and smuggling as opposed to ideology," Zambelis wrote in the July issue of West Point's CTC Sentinel.

---

Associated Press writer Abdul Sattar in Quetta, Pakistan, contributed to this report. Murphy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.