Attack on IRGC forces linked to regional spy services: Leader

Leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says a deadly attack on a group of IRGC personnel on Wednesday, which killed 27 and wounded 13 border guards, is definitely linked to foreign spy services, and must be seriously pursued.

In his Thursday message, Ayatollah Khamenei said the “hands of the mercenary criminals were once again stained with the blood of decent and young servants of the country.”

“A group of our human assets, who had dedicated themselves to protecting our borders and safeguarding the people’s security, were martyred in the attack of evil and stonehearted terrorists,” the Leader said.

“The perpetrators of the crime are definitely linked to the spy services of certain regional and ultra-regional states, and the country’s officials must focus on that, and seriously pursue it,” he added.

“The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) is duty-bound to pursue any possible fault that caused the incident,” he said.

The Leader offered condolences to the families of the innocent martyrs as well as the great family of the IRGC. He wished patience for them and speedy recovery for the wounded.

A suicide attack by Pakistan-based Takfiri elements on a bus carrying Iranian border guards in Iran’s Sistan and Baluchestan province has killed and wounded dozens of IRGC forces.

The attack, claimed by the so-called Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group, targeted the bus carrying IRGC border guards travelling between the cities of Zahedan and Khash in south-eastern Iran.