Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi says the country's intelligence and security apparatus will never abandon pursuing terrorist groups even beyond the borders.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Vahidi said security forces in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, gave a harsh response to the terrorists during a deadly attack against a police station on Saturday that led to the killing of four armed terrorists and two police officers.
"What happened [in Zahedan] yesterday was a terrorist incident and in fact these men entered [the police station] as ordinary people and then carried out a terrorist act," the interior minister said.
Vahidi urged the neighboring country of Pakistan to toughen its border control measures.
Police Chief of Sistan and Baluchestan Doustali Jalilian said on Saturday that the armed terrorists had tried to gain entry into the central area of police station Number 16 of Zahedan while disguising themselves as clients.
“The terrorists failed … to enter the central area of the police headquarters due to the vigilance of the soldier guarding the main door,” Jalilian added, pointing out that one of the terrorists was instantly killed as he drew his weapon towards police officers.
Iran FM expresses sympathy with bereaved families, police personnel
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and the personnel of the Law Enforcement Command of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FARAJA).
In a message addressed to Iran's police chief, Ahmad Reza Radan, the foreign minister paid tribute to the numerous martyrs who have selflessly defended the country’s security.
Amir-Abdollahian highlighted the role of the martyrs in safeguarding the nation against the nefarious objectives of terrorists and their supporters.
He criticized the so-called advocates of human rights for remaining silent in the face of such heinous crimes, pointing out that their inaction exposes their true nature.
Over the past years, Sistan and Baluchestan has witnessed several terror attacks targeting both civilians and security forces.
An Iranian border guard was killed in June in Sistan and Baluchestan in clashes with terrorists seeking to sneak into the country.
Back in May, five Iranian border guards were killed in clashes with armed terrorists and anti-Islamic Revolution groups in Sistan and Baluchestan.