Iran will target Islamic State militants "deep inside the Iraqi territory" if they intend to approach the Iranian borders, a senior Iranian commander was quoted as saying by Press TV on Saturday.

"We will not allow the IS terrorist group to approach the country's borders. We are fully prepared to counter them," Commander of the Iranian Army's Ground Forces, Brigadier General Ahmadreza Pourdastan, said on Saturday. "If the IS terrorist group intends to come near the country's borders, we will target them deep inside the Iraqi territory."

The commander added that Iran has deployed ground forces in western border regions to beef up the security there, and that those forces have high operational capability and would "nip the threats in the bud."

Earlier this month, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the remarks by U.S. officials regarding the formation of a so-called international coalition to fight IS militants are "absurd, hollow and biased." The United States is seeking to expand its military presence in the Middle East region by declaring war on IS terrorists, Khamenei said.

The IS has drawn alarm after overrunning vast swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria in a bid to set up their own nation- state and rule it by radical Islamic laws. The terrorists have killed children, executed prisoners and enslaved victims. They have also sent shock waves across the world after beheading U.S. journalists and posting videos of their horrific deaths online.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)