Can Tehran Become the Next Target of Islamic State?

• 11.19.2015, 19:15
•  Region,  World

After terrorist attacks in France that killed at least 129 people Iranian Minister of Intelligence Mahmoud Alavi warns that the Islamic State can turn its sight on Iran.

At a November 15 security conference in Tehran, Alavi warned that one of the most dangerous threats to Iran comes from the same terrorist group that attacked Beirut and Paris, Al-Monitor reports. Noting that Iran has already taken all the necessary precautionary measures, the Iranian Minister said: "The recent bombings are a serious warning to us that needs the consideration of specialists".

Commanding officer of the Iranian army's ground forces also spoke about dangers of having IS on Iran's western and eastern borders. He said attacks on Diyala province in Iraq, on Iran’s eastern border, led to the decision that if IS forces reach within 25 miles to Iran’s borders its military will take necessary action. At the same time it was noted that Taliban and IS forces have joined together in northern Afghanistan to "invade Iran," but he added that IS forces are currently unable to do so.

Besides the attacks from outside it is not excluded that IS can attack Iran from within. Earlier Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari had warned France, the United States and Iran that IS had plans to attack inside their countries.

It should be noted that Iran’s fears are related to the fact that Iran strongly supports the Syrian and Iraqi governments in the fight against the terrorists. Moreover, after the Syrian army started offensive attacks in September it became obvious that soldiers from the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps participate in the Syrian government’s actions. This is serious reason to become the target of the Islamic State.