TEHRAN – Iranian Minister of Intelligence Minister Esmaille Katib says foreign enemies are trying to destabilise the Southeastern Sistan and the Balchestan province by using “importing elements” and using unstable ones.
His remarks were inspired by major counterterrorism operations that led to the dismantling of Takfiri’s terrorist network and the seizure of important caches of weapons and explosives.
During a visit to the province on Friday, Katib emphasized that Iranian enemies have historically been trying to raise anxiety at home. “From the beginning of the Islamic Revolution, the enemy has been continuously plotted against the Islamic Republic. Today we see efforts are being made to create instability by foreign-supported agents who have no connection to the people of the region,” he said.
Katib urged vigilance and national unity in the face of these threats, warning that hostile forces were trying to misuse every opportunity to sow discord. “The enemy uses all means at will to cause confusion, but the people of Iran have consistently resisted such conspiracies through consciousness and solidarity. Now, more than ever, we must be wary and prevented from outside actors becoming unstable in our country,” he emphasized.
The Intelligence Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the security of southeastern states and called for greater cooperation between public and local governments. “Ensuring peace and stability between Sistan and Balkestan is a top priority. We must not allow the enemy to use the area as a launch pad for a destructive agenda,” he said.
Khatib was relieved that Iran’s intelligence agency is closely monitoring and countering threats to national security. “The Intelligence Ministry of Educators will not hesitate to take action against attempts to undermine stability. We will continue to work relentlessly to protect our nation and support peace,” he declared. He also expressed his gratitude to the Cistan and the people and officials of Balchestan for their important role in maintaining security.
The counter-terrorism operation on Wednesday discovered four warehouses filled with weapons and explosives belonging to the terrorist group. Security officials confiscated 226 light and heavy weapons, including pistols, Kalashniko Flyfuls and Gorynov machine guns, according to local media reports.