Iran's Defense Minister: We Do Not Consider ISIS a Threat

Hosseini Dehghan, Iran's Defense Minister, stated that the group known as the Islamic State (ISIS) "does not have the capability to threaten Iran's borders, and we do not consider this group a threat to ourselves." On June 7, in Qeshm Island, he told the IRNA news agency that Iran's security and military forces are capable of neutralizing any actions by this group "before they begin." He reiterated previous statements from other Iranian officials that Tehran "monitors every movement" of the Islamic State group. Just four days prior to these comments, Ahmadreza Pourdastan, the commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces, had mentioned that forces he labeled as "takfiri and terrorist" are "near Iran's borders." The Ground Forces commander had called for the military and IRGC forces to be strengthened in terms of mobility, readiness, and equipment. This came after the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic had warned in strong terms about regional tensions, stating that if "enemies" bring proxy wars "to Iran's borders," Tehran's response would be "very severe." The Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Hosseini Dehghan as saying that Iran's security, military, and police forces will respond harshly to any movement threatening the country's security. He emphasized that for Tehran, "securing the borders" is important and has been "secured in the best possible way." The published interview did not detail the preparedness of Iran's security forces. Mr. Dehghan was in Qeshm to inaugurate a mosque, part of which is being built by Iran's Ministry of Defense. Currently, extremist militants known as the Islamic State control large areas of Syria, a country whose central government is supported by Tehran, and parts of Iraq, whose government is also considered an ally of Iran. Recently, Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC's Quds Force, stated that "no one but Iran" has the power to confront the Islamic State group. While some Iranian officials have warned about the Islamic State in recent weeks, others have emphasized Iran's "full capability" to counter it. In this context, Rahmani Fazli stated that if ISIS approaches Iran's borders, intervention will definitely occur. Shiite militias in Iraq have taken the lead in operations in Anbar province. The Pentagon criticized the choice of the code name "Labbaik Ya Hussein" for operations in Ramadi. The leader of the al-Qaeda branch in Syria stated that their intention is to capture Damascus. A year after its fall, what has the Islamic State's caliphate brought to Mosul? The changing battlefield of "proxy forces"; the war against the people in the streets of Iran. The first paragraph; the responsibility of opponents and the possibility of radicalizing Iranian society. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iranian crisis. The Secretary of Iran's Security Council stated that the time for reconnecting the internet is uncertain. The shadow of war over Tehran; "Trump is seeking decisive military options against Iran." Trump stated that if the Islamic Republic attempts to assassinate him, it will be "wiped off the face of the earth." A senior U.S. official noted that the Trump administration is closely monitoring the case of Reza Valizadeh. The death of the last Mossad representative in Tehran amid the Iranian crisis.