Rouhani on IRGC Missile Attack: Implemented National Security Council's Decision

The President of Iran praised the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for its missile attack on ISIS positions in Syria in retaliation for the deadly attack on a parade in Ahvaz, stating that the force "executed the decisions of the National Security Council in a timely and precise manner." Hassan Rouhani added that the Islamic Republic will confront not only the "perpetrators" but also the "designers" of this operation in the future. He made these remarks during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, October 3. According to Iranian officials, the attack on the armed forces parade in Ahvaz, for which the Islamic State claimed responsibility, resulted in 24 deaths and over 60 injuries. The IRGC released images on October 2, claiming to show the site of the missiles fired at the "ISIS group headquarters" in Syria. Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, referred to the IRGC's missile attack on Syria as the "first phase of revenge for the Ahvaz terrorist attack." In his remarks on Wednesday, Rouhani expressed gratitude to the armed forces and the IRGC for executing the National Security Council's decisions accurately and promptly, providing a fitting response to those who betrayed the security and lives of the people, showing no mercy even to women, children, and a four-year-old child. He emphasized that Iran's decisive and precise targeting of terrorist centers demonstrates that if the agents of a terrorist group undertake actions in Iran, the main designers and centers of these groups will also be targeted, with further actions to follow. Rouhani did not provide additional details about future actions but stated that the world should know that Iran considers the designers and instigators of terrorism to be the same as the terrorists themselves and will deal with them accordingly, leading to their defeat. The Iranian President also mentioned the "harshest punishment" for those within the country connected to these "criminals" and added that those who design terrorist actions will also be dealt with. Amir Hatami, Iran's Defense Minister, stated that the IRGC has delivered the "first phase of a hard and surprising response" to the perpetrators of the Ahvaz attack and that the instigators should expect further responses. Hatami added that following the attack on the parade in Ahvaz, based on the "will of the Iranian people" and the "emphasis" of the Supreme Leader and "military commanders," the National Security Council immediately decided to take revenge for the martyrs of Ahvaz, and the IRGC executed this decision with power, precision, and timeliness. The IRGC had also launched a missile attack on the Deir ez-Zor region in Syria on June 18, 2017, following attacks on the Iranian parliament and the tomb of Ayatollah Khomeini, which was also carried out after the approval of the National Security Council. The IRGC's retaliatory actions against ISIS positions in Syria come amid reports from several parliament members, based on two videos shown in a closed session, indicating "negligence" in securing the Ahvaz parade and calling for accountability for those responsible.