CIA, regional spy agencies set goals for terrorists: general

“In my opinion, the (Central) Intelligence Agency of the United States and certain neighboring countries’ agencies support counter-revolutionary groups, including the Rigi group. This group is affiliated with foreigners and there is no doubt about the fact that foreign countries provide them with military equipment and training. These intelligence agencies even set goals for these groups,” Rahim Safavi, who is the military advisor of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, told the Mehr News Agency.

He made the remarks two days after a terrorist attack killed over 40 people, including five senior commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan.

The terrorist group Jundullah, also known as the Rigi group because it is led by Abdul-Malek Rigi, has claimed responsibility for the attack, which was carried out in the city of Pishin, near the border with Pakistan.

Rahim Safavi said it will be difficult to find a replacement for IRGC Ground Forces Deputy Commander Nour-Ali Shoushtari, who lost his life in the attack.

“The great achievement of this martyr was that he gathered tribal leaders around him and tried to establish security in the region through cooperation with them, and he was very successful in doing so,” he added.

He went on to say that certain neighboring countries are seeking to foment strife between Iran’s Shias and Sunnis, but the Iranian people will foil this plot through their awareness.

“Today, after eight years, foreign forces including U.S. forces, have failed in Afghanistan and are (thus) attempting to spread Afghanistan’s insecurity to southeastern Iran,” but Iranian intelligence officials are aware of this, he added.

Rahim Safavi also said Pakistan and Afghanistan should live up to their commitments to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

“We want Pakistani officials to control the borders. We want the Pakistani government, military, and intelligence agencies to hand over the mastermind of this terrorist operation… as soon as possible. The Pakistani government should show its goodwill toward Iran,” he stated.

Now that the country has lost Shoushtari, the IRGC should increase its efforts and crack down on the terrorists, he added.

The government should seriously deal with social and economic issues in this underprivileged region of the country because economic development and social welfare are prerequisites for the establishment of lasting peace in the southeast of the country, he observed.

SL/HG

END

MNA