Iran has blasted the silence of the international community over the latest terrorist attacks in several Iranian cities, saying the foreign promoters of violence are encouraging terrorism by keeping mum on such criminal acts against ordinary people and security forces.
In a statement published on Saturday, Iran's Foreign Ministry pointed to the killings of innocent Iranian civilians as well as security forces in the cities of Izeh, Isfahan, and Mashhad in recent days, saying a number of people, including women and children, were martyred and injured in the terrorist attacks sparked by recent foreign-backed riots.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the evil terror attacks, extends condolences to all the dear people of Iran, especially the bereaved families of the martyrs, and prays for swift recovery for the injured,” the statement said.
“Undoubtedly, the intentional silence of claimants of human rights and foreign promoters of chaos and violence in Iran in the face of the most blatant terrorist operations in a number of Iranian cities conveys no other message than encouragement of terrorism and promotion of terrorism across the world."
The Iranian Foreign Ministry said the indiscriminate terrorist killings in Izeh, Esfahan and Mashhad, which followed a recent similar attack against pilgrims and worshipers at the shrine of Shah Cheragh in Shiraz, showed how enemies and those against the holy establishment of the Islamic Republic and the honorable and great people of Iran hide their criminal nature behind the fake mask of sympathy with the people and children of this country.
“From the perspective of international regulations and norms, terrorism is condemned in any form and in any time and place,” the Foreign Ministry added. “Therefore, the world community and international bodies have a duty to prevent the creation of a safe haven for violence-seekers and radical currents, whose survival depends on promoting unrest and spreading hatred, tension, chaos and riots, by condemning the recent terror attacks in Iran.”
The statement underlined that the Islamic Republic reserves the right for a legal and judicial follow-up on the terror acts perpetrated by terrorists and their foreign sponsors based on international law and in accordance with its own rules.
“In completing round-the-clock efforts by security bodies, the diplomatic apparatus of the Islamic Republic of Iran will use all of its power and diplomatic capacities in fulfilling its responsibilities in the field of international politics and relations in order to safeguard powerful and independent Iran and support the nation’s rights,” the statement concluded.
Foreign-backed riots have hit several Iranian provinces since 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini died in hospital on September 16, three days after she collapsed in a police station. An investigation has attributed Amini’s death to her medical condition, rather than alleged beatings by police forces.
The violent riots have claimed the lives of dozens of people and security forces, while also allowing terrorist attacks in the country. In the last two months, the terrorists have set fire to public property and tortured a number of Basij members and security forces to death.
On October 26, a Daesh-affiliated terrorist attacked the Shah Cheragh shrine in the southern province of Fars before the evening prayers, killing at least 15 pilgrims — including a woman and two children — and injuring 40 others.
On Wednesday, at least seven people were killed after terrorists opened fire at people and security forces at a crowded market in Izeh in southwestern province of Khuzestan around the sunset. A nine-year-old child, a 45-year-old woman, and three youths were among the martyrs. At least 10 other people were also wounded, four of whom are in critical condition.
Meanwhile, three people were killed and eight security forces injured during riots in Semirom in the central Iranian province of Isfahan. Two security forces were also killed and two others wounded in the city of Malekshahr in Isfahan Province.
Media reports also said two members of the Basij volunteer forces were killed and three others injured after a stabbing attack by rioters in Iran's northeastern city of Mashhad on Thursday.