TEHRAN – Iran’s intelligence ministry said Monday its forces arrested the second individual involved in last week’s terrorist attack on the highly revered Shah Cheragh shrine in the southern province of Fars.
Speaking at the Passive Defense National Conference, Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib said “technical and defensive measures by” the ministry led to the arrest on Sunday night of the second person involved in the terrorist attack.
The minister added that in addition to the second person involved in the attack, a six-member support team has been also identified and arrested.
He said the ministry was tipped off by people.
People’s awareness can foil enemy plots, the minister said, adding, “If people pay attention and be present in the scene, the enemy will be disappointed.”
Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman hailed slain Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani’s major role in countering Daesh, warning of the worldwide impact of the terrorist group’s crimes had it not been for the Islamic Republic’s counter-terrorism efforts.
General Soleimani, Iran’s lead anti-terror commander, was assassinated in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad on January 3, 2020, three years after he declared the final victory against Daesh.
“If it weren’t for the leading role Iran and eminent General Soleimani played in the fight against Takfiri terrorism and Daesh, the whole world and all those claiming to champion human rights would be still impacted by the crimes of this terrorist group,” Nasser Kanaani said during a weekly press conference here.
Asked to comment on Western countries’ interference in Iran’s internal affairs, including in the recent nationwide riots, Kanaani slammed their “unconstructive, and irresponsible measures” and “meddlesome statements” which, he said, turned peaceful protests into riots.
He added that due to the current state of riots, the voice of those who wanted to peacefully express their criticisms could not be heard.
They provided the ground for violence-seekers and rioters to wreak havoc and based their meddlesome actions on standing up for women’s rights and the rights of minorities, the spokesman said.
Kanaani said European officials claim they’re supporting women’s rights while endorsing indiscriminate sanctions imposed by the U.S. against Iran that target women and children.
The spokesman added the U.S. and its European allies’ “hypocritical” stance on the unrest further paved the way for chaos across the country.