Tehran warns of “crushing blow” if Riyadh does not apologize and “correct its behavior”

LATEST

MONDAY FEATURE

Who’s Behind the Attack Killing 29 in Ahvaz in Southwest Iran?

Iran’s military has vowed to avenge Saturday’s deadly gun attack in the southwestern city of Ahvaz, pointing at Saudi Arabia for its retaliation.

The Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that those behind the attack on a military parade, which killed at least 25 people — including eight Guards — and wounded 60 will face “deadly and unforgettable” revenge in the near future.

It tied the four gunmen to “the ruthless stooges of the global arrogance and reactionary regimes in the region”, proclaiming that “sworn enemies of Iran spare no effort and conspiracy to transfer insecurity into the country after their failure to achieve their ominous goals”.

The chief of staff of the Iranian military, Mohammad Hossein Baqeri, said that if Saudi Arabia does not apologize and “correct its behavior”, Iran’s armed forces reserve the right to a “crushing blow” anywhere and at any time.

A small Ahvazi faction, which Iran says is linked to Saudi Arabia, said it carried out the attack. However, it has been disowned by the larger Ahvazi separatist movement.

The Islamic State, which killed 18 people in high-profile attacks in Tehran in June 2017, claimed responsibility. But it wrongly said that President Hassan Rouhani was attending the military parade.

There have been periodic protests in Ahvaz, which has a large Arab population, over the regime’s economic and social policies.

Both Rouhani and the Supreme Leader preferred to point outside Iran in weekend statements.

Rouhani, who leaves for the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday, said,“The small puppet countries in the region are backed by America, and the United States is provoking them and giving them the necessary capabilities.”

The Supreme Leader wrote that the “crime is a continuation of the conspiracies by the US-backed regimes in the region which have aimed at creating insecurity in our dear country”.

Iran Daily, Sept 23: Regime Responds to Deadly Attack in Southwest

An editorial in Kayhan by editor-in-chief Hossein Shariatmadari, appointed by the Supreme Leader, threatened the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE:

Why should their military and security officials anywhere in the world and in any disguise be immune to the fire of revenge when they do not recognize attacks on military personnel, women and children as terrorist operations?

They should fear even their own shadows as Islamic Iran’s selfless supporters are present everywhere.

Currency Shatters 150,000:1 Mark v. US Dollar

The Iranian rial has established a new historic low, breaking the 150,000:1 mark against the US dollar.

After another fall earlier this month, the rial was stuck at 149,500:1 for more than a week — possibly because exchange offices stopped reporting figures. But this morning, the currency sank about 5.5% to 157,000:1.

Amid long-term internal issues and expanding US sanctions, the rial has lost more than 70% of its value since January, when it was already at a historic floor of 45,000:1. The devaluation has fed a resurgence of inflation, which had fallen to single digits from more than 40% in 2013, and led to the Government considering the rationing of food and essential items.