Zarif Vows Punishment for Terrorists, Their Masters

Local Editor

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif condemned a fatal terror attack that targeted the country’s port city of Chabahar, vowing that the Islamic Republic will bring the perpetrators and "their masters" to justice.

Zarif took to his official Twitter account on Thursday to react to the car bomb attack, which he said was perpetrated by "foreign-backed terrorists."

Earlier in the day, a vehicle laden with explosives went off close to a police headquarters in Chabahar, situated in the southeastern province of Sistan-and-Baluchestan.

The terrorist behind the wheel was seeking to force his way into the police post, but failed to do so as local security forces quickly intervened.

At least two police officers lost their lives and some 40 other people sustained injuries in the explosion, which also killed the bomber.

Later, the so-called Ansar al-Furqan terrorist group later claimed responsibility for the assault.

"As we've made clear in the past, such crimes won’t go unpunished: In 2010, our security services intercepted & captured extremists en route from UAE," Zarif tweeted.

Zarif was apparently referring to a highly successful operation by Iranian intelligence services, which led to the capture in 2010 of Abdolmalek Rigi, the ringleader of the so-called Jundullah terror group. The extremist outfit under Rigi was dismantled and he was executed later that year.

That operation followed a 2009 terror attack by extremist terrorists that claimed over 40 lives in Sistan-and-Baluchestan Province.

"Mark my words: Iran WILL bring terrorists & their masters to justice," Zarif emphasized.

Sistan-and-Baluchestan -- which borders Pakistan -- has suffered several terror attacks targeting both civilians and security forces over the past years.

Iranian forces, from time to time, bust terrorist ringlets in the province, foiling their planned attacks and confiscating weapons and ammunition in the course of such security operations.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team