Nov 16, 2015

After the series of attacks Nov. 13 that killed at least 129 people in France, Iranian Minister of Intelligence Mahmoud Alavi is warning that the Islamic State could have its sights set on Iran.

At a Nov. 15 security conference in Tehran, Alavi warned that one of the most dangerous threats to Iran comes from the same terrorist group that attacked Beirut and Paris. While Alavi said Iran has taken the necessary precautions, he added, “The recent bombings are a serious warning to us that needs the consideration of specialists.”

Alavi did not say whether the potential threat emanates from inside Iran or from groups in neighboring countries.

Gen. Ahmad Reza Pourdestan, commanding officer of the Iranian army's ground forces, spoke Nov. 16 of concerns about having IS on Iran's western and eastern borders. He said attacks on Diyala province in Iraq, on Iran’s eastern border, led to the decision that if IS forces reach within 25 miles of Iran’s borders, its military will take action.

Pourdestan said that in northern Afghanistan, Taliban and IS forces have joined together to “invade Iran,” but he added that IS forces are currently unable to do so.