Police Chief: Iranian Borders Secure, Needed Measures Foreseen to Keep ISIL Away

Iran’s Police Chief Brigadier General Esmayeel Ahmadi Moqaddam underlined full security at the country’s borders, and said the necessary defensive measures have been adopted to keep the terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) away from Iranian borders.
“We adopted the necessary defensive and operational measures when the members of the ISIL started their massive operations in Iraq, and we are still vigilant and prepared,” Ahmadi Moqaddam told reporters in Tehran on Sunday.

He further pointed out that Iran is enjoying high level of security and stability, despite growing insecurity in a string of the regional nations, saying, “Taking into account the conditions prevailing in the region, we enjoy a desirable security condition in our country.”

Ahmadi Moqaddam said that crime rate has decreased in Iran during the last year, adding that no or little terrorist actions occurred in the country last year.

In relevant remarks today, Iranian Interior Ministry Spokesman Hossein Ali Amiri reiterated full control over the country’s borders, and said the terrorists active in Iraq, including the ISIL, do not dare to pose a threat to Iran.

“Given the regional conditions, good measures have been planned for the common borders with the neighboring countries, specially Iraq,” Amiri said in an interview with the parliament’s news website on Sunday.

Stressing the good and secure conditions at Iran’s borders, he underlined that no specific threat is posed to the country’s borders.

Amiri said Iran’s border is not under the threat of the ISIL, and added, “This lack of concern doesn’t mean a lack of vigilance as the current conditions necessitate us to be precise and vigilant,” Amiri said.

Also in June, Commander of the Iranian Border Guards Units General Hossein Zolfaqari announced that his forces have intensified security measures along the country’s Western borders with Iraq in a bid to prepare for any unexpected conditions.

“All the possible outcomes for any type of activity along the country’s Western borders have been studied and we are prepared for confronting any possible conditions,” General Zolfaqari said.

He noted that some Iraqi citizens may look for a safe haven in Iran due to inclement conditions in their country, “and we have offered some proposals to the officials in this regard”.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also earlier this year warned of Iran’s tough confrontation with the ISIL or any other terrorist group which might come close to the Iranian borders, and said, “If a terrorist group approaches our borders, we will definitely confront it, because our duty is defending our territorial integrity and national interests.”