Iran News Roundup - June 9, 2017

Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) arrested two individuals connected to the Tehran terror attacks in Ravansar, Kermanshah province. (ISNA) (Radio Farda)

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reacted to the White House statement on the terrorist attacks in Tehran. The White House statement noted, “We grieve and pray for the innocent victims of the terrorist attacks in Iran, and for the Iranian people, who are going through such challenging times. We underscore that states that sponsor terrorism risk falling victim to the evil they promote.” Zarif called the statement as well as Congress’s recent efforts to pass sanctions on Iran “repugnant,” and stressed that Iran is “countering terror backed by U.S. clients.” Zarif stated that the “Iranian people reject such US claims of friendship.” (Fars News Agency) (E)

Former presidential candidate Hojjat ol Eslam Ebrahim Raisi stated, “The strategic direction of the Saudi government is the establishment of global arrogance in the Middle East.” He added that “The ignorant, with all of its media empire, tries to instill a spirit of submission, obedience, and oppression between nations.” (Fars News Agency)

Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) Head Hojjat ol Eslam Mahmoud Alavi stated that while “there is no doubt that Saudi Arabia supports terrorist groups around the globe… it is not possible to make any concrete judgement at this juncture and we require more time to be assured of Saudi’s involvement in the attacks in Tehran.” (IRNA) (E)

The Interior Ministry identified five gunmen as “Qayyoum, Abu Jihad, Ramin, Seras, and Fereydoun,” but did not provide last names. The ministry stated that the five men joined ISIS and fought in ISIS operations in Mosul and Raqqa, and later returned to Iran in August 2016 to carry out an operation under the command of Abu Ayesheh, a senior ISIS commander. The Interior Ministry claimed that the five attackers fled Iran after security forces captured Abu Aysheh in August 2016. (Tasnim News Agency) (E)

President Hassan Rouhani called French President Emmanuel Macron on the evening of June 7. Rouhani stressed that his administration “is ready to work with the government of France and other European countries to decisively stand up to terrorism and fight against it.” Macron stated that France would consider closer cooperation with Iran in the fight against terrorism.” (Tasnim News Agency) (E)

• Rouhani calls Assad. President Hassan Rouhani called Syrian President Bashar al Assad on June 8.  Rouhani stressed that Iran and Syria “are in the same bastion of terrorism,” and reiterated Iran’s commitment to standing “by the Syrian people until the final victory is achieved.” Rouhani also stated that “such terrorist attacks and terror are not new to the Iranian nation.” (President.ir) (E)

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei addressed the terrorist attacks in a statement released on June 8. Khamenei called the attacks “a clear manifestation of the malicious enmity of the (global) arrogance’s mercenaries against the respectable Iranian nation and anything which concerns the (Islamic) revolution and the Islamic establishment as well as the late founder (of the Islamic Republic, Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini).” Khamenei stated that “the definitive result of such (incidents) is nothing but more hatred against the US government and its regional agents such as the Saudi (regime).” (Leader.ir) (E)

Marie Donovan discusses how President Hassan Rouhani’s re- election will impact Iran’s involvement in the region and relationship with the U.S. in “Four things to expect from Rouhani’s re-election.”

Fred Kagan and Marie Donovan break down the  ISIS cell and support structure within Iran  in, “Tehran Terror Attacks Underscore ISIS Depth in Iran.”