The Security Council Condemns the 'Terrorist' Attack in Ahvaz

On Monday, October 2, the United Nations Security Council condemned the 'terrorist attack' in Ahvaz in a statement. The Security Council stated that it condemns this 'despicable cowardly terrorist attack' in the strongest terms. Iranian officials accused 'regional governments' of being involved in the Ahvaz attack. The United States currently holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council. The attack on a military parade on September 22 in Ahvaz left at least 24 people dead and more than 60 injured. Members of the Security Council also expressed deep sympathy with the families of the victims of this attack and hoped for the swift recovery of the injured. The statement emphasized that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. The members of the Security Council also stressed the necessity of holding accountable the perpetrators and supporters of these 'terrorist actions and administering justice' against them, urging all governments to cooperate with the Iranian government based on their international commitments. The statement clarified that any act of terrorism, regardless of motivation, location, time, or who committed it, is a criminal and unjustifiable act. Iranian officials have pointed fingers at a group known as the 'Arab Liberation Movement of Ahvaz,' but the spokesperson for this group has claimed that the 'National Resistance Group of Ahvaz' was involved in the attack. This group, which has not published any reports about its activities so far, has not issued any statements regarding this matter. Meanwhile, the Islamic State (ISIS) has also claimed responsibility for the Ahvaz attack. The Islamic State group released a video on its 'Amaq' site claiming to show images and statements from three of the four attackers involved in the military parade assault in Ahvaz. Iranian officials announced that the four armed attackers were killed in response by the military personnel present at the scene. Iranian officials have previously accused Saudi Arabia of supporting armed groups opposing the government in Khuzestan, Kurdistan, and Sistan and Baluchestan. However, Saudi Arabia and these groups deny these accusations. On Saturday, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic and the Iranian Foreign Ministry accused 'regional governments' and foreign governments of being involved in the attack on the Iranian armed forces' parade in Ahvaz. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated in a statement that the 'evil triangle of Western, Hebrew, and Arab' countries is not sparing any effort or conspiracy in 'pursuing the project of transferring insecurity to the Islamic homeland.' This entity threatened that it would not hesitate to 'pursue and severely punish the criminals in the region and beyond.' In this context, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence reported the arrest of 22 individuals in connection with the Ahvaz attack. The governor of Ahvaz stated that the number of casualties from the attack in this city has not increased. The attack in Ahvaz has led to threats of a 'crushing response' to Saudi Arabia. The United States and the UAE rejected Iran's claims regarding their involvement in the Ahvaz attack.