Regional Commander of the IRGC: We Have Accurate Reports of Saudi Arabia's Efforts to Create Insecurity at Eastern Borders

The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) base in southeastern Iran stated that he has "accurate news" indicating that Arab countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, as well as Western countries, are attempting to create "insecurity" at Iran's eastern borders. According to ISNA news agency, Major General Mohammad Marani announced on Tuesday, September 1, that this year, three to four groups he described as "anti-revolutionary activists from across the borders" have been "destroyed" by the forces of the Islamic Republic. The commander of the Quds Base of the IRGC in southeastern Iran described the fight against groups he termed "anti-revolutionary" that intend to "enter from the eastern borders and create insecurity deep within the country" as one of the "most important issues." He emphasized, "We control the borders... with vigilance, especially since we have accurate news regarding the efforts of Arab services, particularly Saudi Arabia and Western countries, to create insecurity at the eastern borders." Previously, several high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic, including Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, have accused Saudi Arabia of attempting to create insecurity in southeastern Iran and of "sending weapons" and supporting "terrorist groups" in the region. In this context, Mohsen Rezaei, former commander of the IRGC and Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council of Iran, claimed in late July that Saudi Arabia has established a base in Pakistani Balochistan to "destabilize" Iran's eastern borders. He also accused Saudi Arabia of creating a "military base" in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The Sistan and Baluchestan province has repeatedly been the scene of clashes between Iranian military forces and armed groups opposed to the Islamic Republic, and Iranian officials have repeatedly called for Pakistan to take action against these groups, which they claim have bases in Pakistan. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, during his visit to Pakistan in April, emphasized that the previously signed security agreement between the two countries "must be operationalized" to enhance Iran's ability to secure its borders in Sistan and Baluchestan. Meanwhile, the commander of the Quds Base of the IRGC stated that "this year we have destroyed three to four active anti-revolutionary groups from across the borders." According to Mr. Marani, one of these groups was led by a team leader named Emanullah Reisi and was affiliated with the "Furqan" group, which intended to carry out actions in "border cities" and "deep within the country" and was carrying "close to 150 kilograms of explosives." This military official announced that four members of this group were killed in cooperation with law enforcement forces at the end of Ramadan, and Emanullah Reisi along with nine others were arrested. However, Mr. Marani did not provide further details about other groups he claimed to have been "destroyed." The Iranian Ministry of Intelligence had previously announced in May 2015 that Hisham Azizi, known as Abu Hafs al-Balushi, the commander of the "Ansar al-Furqan" group, and two of his companions were killed in Sistan and Baluchestan province. Reports indicate that the "Ansar al-Furqan" group was formed from the union of two groups, "Ansar Iran" and "Furqan." The "Ansar Iran" group is a splinter faction that emerged from the "Jundallah" group after the execution of its leader, Abdolmalek Rigi. In recent years, Iranian officials have implicitly reported the killing of armed opponents of the Islamic Republic in Pakistan by Iranian security forces. For instance, Mahmoud Alavi, Iran's Minister of Intelligence, stated in mid-December 2014 that elements of the Jaish al-Adl group outside the country had been targeted and killed. In April 2015, the Ministry of Intelligence announced that Saeed Torkman Zahe, known as "Mullah Maaz," the spokesman for the Jaish al-Adl group, was killed near his home in Karachi, Pakistan, after claiming responsibility for the murder of eight Iranian border guards by this group. In this context, accusations of promoting insecurity in southeastern Iran have been directed at "some Arab countries," with Shamkhani implicitly accusing Saudi Arabia of creating insecurity at the border with Pakistan. Rezaei stated that Saudi Arabia has activated armed groups against Iran.