President Rouhani Vows Harsh Response to any Attack on Shiite Shrines

President Hassan Rouhani said the holy Shiite shrines in Iran, Iraq and Syria are the Islamic Republic’s redlines, and if they come under attack by terrorist groups, the response will be harsh.

“The holy shrines of Ahlul Beit – the Shiite Imams and the Infallible Household of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) – are our redlines. If terrorist groups decide to target these holy sites, we will not take it nicely,” Rouhani said Saturday, addressing a national forum to commemorate Iranian martyrs in Tehran.

He noted that young Iranians are always ready to defend the holy shrines in the country and in the neighboring states, adding that Iran would resort to any possible means to protect them.

In relevant remarks in November 2014, a senior military commander warned that Tehran would take tough and direct action in Iraq if Baghdad or other Iraqi cities which host the Shiite holy shrines come under attack by the terrorists.

“Baghdad, the holy shrines and the shrines of Shiite Imams are surely all among the Islamic Republic’s redlines,” the head of the ranks-and-files and joint affairs of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Mohammad Baqeri, said in an interview with Defa’ (Defense) Press, reiterating that Tehran has not taken any direct military action in Iraq so far.

He warned that if the mentioned cities and holy shrines are threatened, “the Islamic Republic will take direct action” to kill the terrorists and destroy their headquarters.

Assuring the friendly states, including Iraq, that Tehran would help and support them until final victory, Baqeri said if the interests of Iran’s friends and allies were threatened, the country would support and provide them with necessary trainings to confront any danger.

Speaking in an interview with the American CNN television in September 2014, President Rouhani also said Iran would resort to any possible means to protect the holy sites in Iraq, including those in Karbala and Najaf, and the country’s capital city of Baghdad from the terrorist attacks.

The holy Shiite shrines are scattered in a number of regional Arab states, including Iraq and Syria, both of which enjoying Iran’s military advice on how to fight the terrorists.