Iran threatens attacks in Iraq if ‘terrorist’ movement persists on borders

Mohammad Pakpour, the commanding officer of Iranian Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Ground Forces, warned the forces of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government that it will not tolerate the increased activity of terrorists near Iran’s border and would consider attacking them if the borders are threatened, according to reports from Iranian media.

Mohammad Pakpour, who is a Brigadier by rank, said that terrorists had been using territories controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government to strain the security of the Iranian borders. 

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Pakpour also claimed that the Kurdistan Regional Government failed to take any action against these terrorists even though multiple warnings have been issued by Iran in the past.

According to reports from the Tehran Times, Pakpour said, “Terrorist and counterrevolutionary groups affiliated with the global arrogance and foreign espionage services have been using the territory of northern Iraq for many years to undermine security and peace in border areas of the Islamic Republic of Iran and harass the inhabitants of these regions.”

The statement added, “In this regard, the Iraqi government and the officials of the northern region of Iraq have been given the necessary warnings.”

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Pakpour’s statements also weaved in a threat directed towards the government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government. This included a warning related to allowing terrorist to set up their operational headquarters, according to reports from the Tehran Times.

Civilians residing near the headquarters of the anti-revolutionary groups in areas controlled by the Kurdistan Regional Government were advised to stay away as Pakpour threatened to attack these institutions. 

“Given the situation in the [northern Iraqi] region and the possibility of (giving) a firm and crushing response by the Islamic Republic of Iran to terrorist groups, which are affiliated with the sworn enemies of the (Islamic) Revolution and the Islamic Establishment, and are holed up in the northern Iraqi territory, we request the inhabitants of this region to distance themselves from terrorists’ bases, so that no harm would come to them”, Pakpour said in a statement, according to reports from the Tehran Times.