Soleimani Vows Revenge on IRGC Attackers, Warns Pakistan against Saudi Attempts

By Staff, Agencies

Commander of al-Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps [IRGC] Major General Qassem Soleimani cautioned Pakistan against the true intentions behind Saudi Arabia's pumping of billions of dollars into its troubled economy, saying the Riyadh regime is after breaking the Asian state apart by pitting it against its neighbors.

Soleimani once again vowed on Thursday that Tehran will avenge the blood of those who lost their lives in last week's bloody attack carried out by Pakistan-based terrorists in southeastern Iran.

It worries Iran that the Pakistani nation and government allow Saudi money to end up in the hands of these Takfiri terrorists, Soleimani said, adding that "Saudi-sponsored terrorists on Pakistani soil are causing trouble for all of the country's neighbors, and Pakistan must fully realize this matter."

"We tell the people of Pakistan that they should not permit Saudi Arabia to destroy their country with its money," Soleimani said, adding that the Asian country must not turn into a place for activities that disturb regional states such as Iran, India and Afghanistan.

Last week, a bomber -- identified by the IRGC as Pakistani national Hafiz Mohammad Ali -- slammed his explosives-laden vehicle into a bus carrying off-duty members of the elite Iranian force in Sistan and Baluchestan Province bordering Pakistan, during which 27 of them were martyred.

The Pakistan-based Jaish ul-Adl Takfiri terrorist group -- which has ties to al-Qaeda and the Al Saud regime -- claimed responsibility.

In the wake of the fatal terror attack, the IRGC warned Saudi Arabia and its vassal state, the United Arab Emirates [UAE], of retaliatory measures for backing the terrorists on behalf of the US and the ‘Israeli’ regime. It also urged Pakistan to change its policy towards Jaish ul-Adl.

Soleimani further stressed that Iran does not want mere condolences, but concrete action from neighboring Pakistan, asking, "Can't you, as a nuclear-armed state, deal with a hundreds-strong terrorist group in the region?"

"Iran is a safe neighbor for Pakistan and we will not threaten this country, but we will exact revenge against the Takfiri mercenaries, who have the blood of our youths on their hands" no matter where in the world they are," Soleimani said.

The assault preceded a controversial visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to cash-strapped Pakistan, where he received a lavish welcome.

During MBS’ stay, Riyadh and Islamabad inked several agreements in diverse sectors worth as much as $20bn for Pakistan, which is in desperate need of cash amid its central bank's severe lack of foreign reserves.