12 terrorist teams arrested in coutheastern Iran since March 2012

Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour announced on Monday that his forces have disbanded over a dozen terrorist cells in Southeastern Iran in the last 17 months. “We have adopted so substantial measures in Southeastern Iran that since the start of the last Iranian year (in March, 2012) more than 12 teams of terrorists who intended to conduct sabotage and terror operations in the country have been destroyed due to the timely confrontation of the combatants of the IRGC Ground Force Qods Base,” Brigadier General Pakpour said, addressing a group of IRGC commanders and officials in the Northeastern city of Mashhad on Monday. The Iranian commander underlined that the IRGC is in full control over Southeastern Iran, adding that his forces dominate the region because they have good intelligence about the moves made by various groups in there. Brigadier General Pakpour pointed to the IRGC Ground Force’s successful wargames in the last three years, and said, “The IRGC Ground Force is fully ready to confront any threat against the Islamic Republic.” On Sunday, IRGC's Chief Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari emphasized his forces’ full preparedness to defend the country against any enemy aggression, and said the IRGC is closely monitoring even the slightest threatening moves made by the enemies in the region. “The IRGC as a body bearing an outstanding part of the responsibility for defending the Islamic Republic and its achievements will certainly monitor and pursue the threatening moves with sharper eyes,” Jafari said, addressing the IRGC Navy Forces in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. “Our action mirrors enemy moves and positions; we have not made any aggression against any country, but if the enemy's movements turn into direct or indirect threats, we will then assume defense as our inalienable right,” he added. Jafari praised the high level of the preparedness of the Iranian military, saying, “The sworn enemies of the Islamic Republic do not dare to enter war with Iran because of our preparedness and improved capabilities for combating such threats."