Measures Adopted for Ensuring Security of Imam Khomeini’s Demise Anniversary: Commander
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) made assurances that his forces are fully prepared to provide security for a massive ceremony to mark the anniversary of the demise of Imam Khomeini (RA), the late founder of the Islamic Republic.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Tehran on Saturday, Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Yazdi pointed to measures taken to ensure the security of pilgrims attending the mourning ceremony due to be held on Monday in the capital, Tehran, to mark the 29th anniversary of the demise of Imam Khomeini (RA), saying that there would be no security problem.
“We are enjoying a high level of intelligence supremacy from entry points of (the country’s) borders to Tehran,” he said, adding that recently, the IRGC forces have taken good measures to secure the ceremony through using advanced intelligence and security capabilities.
“We assure the dear people (of Iran) that we will nip any moves against security in the bud,” the commander noted.
The remarks came as the director of the public relations department of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) announced that airports in the capital, Tehran, will be closed for 5 hours on Monday on the anniversary of the demise of Imam Khomeini.
Earlier this week, Brigadier General Yazdi said that members of two terrorist cells were arrested ahead of the demise anniversary.
“We are not worried about security issues but we know that our enemies’ malice does not have limits; so we have made all (necessary) security and defense preparations,” the commander said on Monday.
“We arrested two (terrorist) teams that were poised to create insecurity,” he said, adding, “We think that the enemies are aware of the level of our readiness and that they will be stopped by a slap in the face.”
On June 7, 2017, Daesh (ISIS or ISIL) terrorists launched simultaneous attacks on Iran’s parliament building in downtown Tehran and on the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini.
The attacks left 17 people dead and more than 40 others wounded.
All of the five gunmen directly involved in the attacks were killed by the security forces.
Every year, large crowds of Iranians travel to Tehran from different parts of the country to pay tribute to Imam Khomeini at his shrine.
Ayatollah Ruhollah Moussavi Khomeini, better known as Imam Khomeini, engineered Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, which led to the overthrow of the US-backed Shah of Iran.
Imam Khomeini passed away on June 3, 1989, at the age of 87.
