Iranian Maj. General, Naqdi: ’ISIS’, an ’Israeli’-American Movement

Mokhtar Haddad

Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi, Commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces "Basij" in Iran, considered what the world has been witnessing in recent years unprecedented international terrorism, in which the terrorists are carrying out the most brutal criminal acts. He also accused western-linked countries and governments of supporting those terrorists and their acts that would never resemble freedom or resistance.

General Naqdi, in an exclusive interview with "al-Ahed" website, explained that the United States, after the popular and political failure in recent years, decided to form armed groups that would shake stability in the region and divide Muslims. He also considered that those Takfiris have another mission to accomplish, which is defaming Islam in the eyes of the West, emphasizing that the terrorists are the soldiers of the Zionist entity in unconventional war.

"ISIS", a Zionist-American Movement

Naqdi further added: "The continuity of this war or its end [is not related] to political developments in Syria, but is rather [tied to] American and Zionist instructions. The most important point that could stop this plot is that the Islamic world agrees to view "ISIS" as a Zionist-American movement."

"We have our experience in this regard, when Iran was facing terrorist attacks in the early years following the victory of the Islamic revolution, Imam Khomeini was able to crush the terrorists whom he described as being Americans", he explained.

The Commander of the "Basij" recalled that "We witnessed in the Vienna talks that the terrorists were representing the vast majority in the conference because the Syrian government was not present there. The countries supporting the Syrian government, such as Iran, Russia and Iraq were the minority in this conference, hence the decisions that were made could not be reliable."

- What are the roots of the terrorist operations in France?

Regarding the terrorist attacks in France and Lebanon, Deputy Commander of the Revolutionary Guards wondered: What is the origin of the terrorist attacks in France? He considered that the liberation and resistance movements aim at changing the social situation [of people] and to help them, unlike the terrorists who kill innocent people. The resistance forces fight criminals and enemies while the terrorist groups kill people in the streets, markets and restaurants. Those foreign intelligence apparatuses standing behind them plan and execute for political and security purposes.

General Naqdi also stated that: "Through their latest plan in France, they want to impose a special stance on the country as well as the European people, or they seek creating an excuse to execute a new massacre against Muslims somewhere, and they are preparing the grounds for this."

- The Iranian presence in Syria is advisory

Regarding the Russian intervention and Iranian presence in Syria, he said that: "Iran plays an advisory role in Syria. Sometimes, we display our expertise directly in the operation field." He further emphasized that: "The Iranian presence was officially requested by the Syrian government. We cannot leave Syria alone [as it] faces the Zionists. Today, everyone sees how the terrorists are receiving medical treatment in the Zionist hospitals, and how they are being visited by the enemy's PM, and being supplied with money and logistics".

He also noted that [our] brothers in Iraq, when they were in Iran during the tyrant rule, they operated beside the Iranians and gained good experience in military [aspects], therefore, our presence in Iraq is less than that in Syria.

- Russia stands by justness

Naqdi called for helping the Syrian people fight terrorism, asserting that his country does not reject the Russian aid because Moscow stands by justness and justness belongs to the Syrian people. He also noted that the Syrians are facing today a terrorist war that is supported by western global powers, which makes supporting and helping them something necessary.

- Hizbullah fights the Takfiris

On the level of the Islamic resistance's role in facing the Takfiris, Naqdi said that Hizbullah's presence in facing the Takfiris is evidence of its intelligence. Had not Hizbullah and the Islamic Resistance been there today, the Takfiris would have been killing everyone [Shia, Christians and non-Wahhabi Sunnis]. The commander stressed that security in Lebanon today is due to Hizbullah's role in fighting terrorists. "We owe the resistance's martyrs who sacrificed their lives for us."

- Iran continues to support the Palestinian cause

Regarding the Intifada in Palestine, Naqdi called on Palestinians to distinguish the enemy from the friend. Not everyone who offers financial aid [such as Qatar and Saudi Arabia] is a friend of the Palestinian people. This money would be spent to deviate the Palestinians from their original path of resistance, therefore, they have to be alert and aware. He stated that: "We know the truth of both Zionist governments in Qatar and Saudi Arabia that are stealing Muslim wealth of oil and gas, and spending it in favor of the west and the Zionists."

In addition, Naqdi reminded that "The Iranian people, since the first day after the victory of the Islamic Republic, closed the Zionist embassy and opened instead the Palestinian embassy. Since then, our people have been celebrating the International al-Quds Day, and raising funds to support the oppressed Palestinians. Despite the high price the Islamic Republic paid and is still paying, it will continue its support of the Palestinian cause.

- The Intifada is a blessed movement that could not be extinguished

Naqdi stressed that the Intifada in the West Bank is a blessed uprising and movement that could not be extinguished, noting that this movement will continue thanks to the resistance's victories in Gaza in its three wars, which raised the morale of the Palestinian people and proved that the resistance can defeat the enemy. He also demanded arming the West Bank just like the Gaza Strip, because if the [West] Bank was armed, the entity would have disappeared due to the presence of great, vital Zionist centers in the West Bank.

- Yemen is a strategic point and the Americans want to control it

As for the brutal Saudi aggression against the Yemeni people, Naqdi asserted that Saudi Arabia is fighting on behalf of the US and the Zionist entity against the oppressed Yemeni people. He related the causes of aggression to the anti-American and anti-Zionist movement that atttained power, especially because this movement considers that only the Yemeni people can determine its destiny, which frightens them, describing the Al Saud family as the spies of America and the occupation.

He also added that this aggression achieves huge benefits in favor of America as a result of the US' selling of weapons to Saudi Arabia to kill the innocent people of Yemen. He said that the American economy is ruined, and the Americans are stealing the oil and wealth of the region, namely that of Saudi Arabia. The continuity of wars among Muslims serves the Zionist and American interests. Yemen embraces a strategic point, the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait, therefore the Americans want to control it.

- The Americans do not want the nuclear deal

Regarding the nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the P5+1, Naqdi doubted the credibility of the American administration in affecting it. In this context, he cited the deal that was made in Algeria between Iran and the US in 1981, in which the Americans violated it although Iran carried out all its commitments within the deal. He considered that in the current deal, they do not want the solution, they are rather seeking control and hegemony over our people, economy, and oil.

- Mobilization is an exceptional power

Answering [a question on] the mobilization's role in fighting international arrogance and its tools, he stressed that it is an exceptional power in the Islamic world. He spoke of the courage and solidity of the Iranian mobilization members, citing the example of the resistant fighter "Mohammad Jaldawi", who was martyred a few years ago while [seeking] to protect the worshippers from a terrorist suicide bomber who was trying to enter and blow himself in a mosque in Zahdan, eastern Iran.
"I visited the camps of the participants in the Baitul Maqdes maneuvers a few days ago, they are members of the mobilization. Those guys had only one request, which is allowing them to go to Syria. This proves that those people welcome martyrdom for the sake of Allah, and do not fear the suicide-bombers, terrorists, and enemies."

Source: al-Ahed News, Translated and Edited by website team