Commander Warns about Enemies’ Attempts to Sow Discord among Shiites, Sunnis

Commander of Iran’s Basij (volunteer) force Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Naqdi underlined the necessity of increasing unity and solidarity among Shiite and Sunni Muslims, and warned that enemies are striving hard to stir tension and sectarian strife among different Islamic sects.

“The enemy is seeking to sow discord among different ethnic groups and religions,” Naqdi said on Wednesday, addressing a number of commanders and members of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in the Southeastern Sistan and Balouchestan province.

He also warned about enemies’ attempts to create a rift between the Shiites and Sunnis, and urged Muslims to show maximum vigilance against such plots.

Naqdi had also in his earlier remarks in October underlined the necessity of solidarity in the Muslim world, saying unity among Islamic sects foils enemies’ plots and helps to growth and expansion of Islamic awakening.

“Today, Shiites and Sunnis have together defused the inauspicious plots of the enemies of the Revolution through unity and brotherhood and expanded the Islamic awakening through unity, vigilance and awareness…” Naqdi said at the time.

Pointing to the growing tides of Islamic awakening in the region, he noted, “In Muslim states, the Islamic awakening is also the result of the unity between the Shiites and Sunnis.”

Also in July, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said enemies are deeply fearful of unity and solidarity among the regional and Muslim states and are, thus, seeking to sow discord among the regional nations through different plots.

Speaking in a meeting with the United Arab Emirates incoming Envoy to Tehran Saif Mohammed Obaid al-Zaabi at the time, Ahmadinejad said, “Enemies are striving to sow discord among religious brothers and the regional nations should be vigilant against enemies’ plots and not allow them to exercise their plans against the region.”

“There are many vicious thoughts and hands that are fearful of brotherhood and unity among regional governments and nations because regional cooperation will only harm the enemies of the region,” Ahmadinejad said.