Iran rejects claims on Rigi infiltration

The Iranian intelligence minister has dismissed reports that members of the Jundallah terrorist group have trespassed on the country.

“This is not true at all,” Fars News Agency quoted Heidar Moslehi as saying on Thursday.

“Iran’s intelligence and security (forces) are closely monitoring moves by members of this terrorist group. We maintain complete dominance over all their activities,” he added.

Certain media reports had claimed that the remaining members of Jundallah terrorist cell have infiltrated into Iran during the holy month of Ramadan, which began on August 12.

Jundallah is a Pakistan-based terrorist group which has carried out numerous bombings, assassination attempts, and terrorist attacks in Iran.

The group’s ringleader Abdolmalek Rigi was arrested by Iranian intelligence forces in February 2010 and executed in June over 79 counts of crimes, including armed robbery, bombing operations and armed attacks on police and civilians.

On July 15, two bomb explosions in quick succession took place outside the Grand Mosque of southeastern city of Zahedan, killing at least 27 people and injuring 100 others.

The attack has been widely blamed on extremist Wahabis and Salafis trained by US intelligence in Pakistan.

But Jundallah has also claimed responsibility for the attacks, despite having been effectively disbanded following Rigi’s execution.