Speaker:

Iranian Parliament Strongly Supports IRGC, Quds Force

Rasa - Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani blasted the US Senate for plans to study imposition of new sanctions against Tehran over its missile program, and underlined the legislative body's full support for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and the IRGC Quds Force.

News ID: 430278

Date: 11 June 2017 - 23:16

RNA - "When we witness the recent positions taken by the US and the Senate's recent approval, we see that they are all aimed at blunting the instruments which give honor to the Iranian nation and they want to make the Iranian officials busy with minor issues," Larijani said, addressing the Iranian lawmakers in an open session of the parliament in Tehran on Sunday.

"The Americans should understand that the parliament has a strong will to fight against the terrorists and supports the IRGC and the Quds Force with all its power," he stressed.

Larijani referred to the last Wednesday terrorist attacks against the parliament and the holy shrine of late Imam Khomeini in Tehran which killed 17 people and wounded 52 others, and said the Iranian Armed Forces will give a crushing response to the terrorists.

Three unknown male assailants fired several rounds at the guards protecting the parliament building in Tehran on Wednesday morning. The assailants opened their way into the parliament's administrative building while shooting at the guards.

A similar attack took place at the holy shrine of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, parallel with the parliament attack.

17 people, including the parliament's guards, were killed and 52 others were wounded in the twin attacks.

US President Donald Trump condemned the dual terrorist attacks in Iran but warned that state sponsors of terrorism "risk falling victim to the evil they promote".

"We grieve and pray for the innocent victims of the terrorist attacks in Iran, and for the Iranian people, who are going through such challenging times," he said in the two-sentence statement.

But he alleged that Iran shared in the blame, saying that "we underscore that states that sponsor terrorism risk falling victim to the evil they promote."

The State Department also issued a brief statement. Although it usually expresses solidarity with and offers assistance to a government in a country where there has been a terrorism episode, it did not do so Wednesday.

"The depravity of terrorism has no place in a peaceful, civilized world," the department said in a three-sentence statement.

"The United States condemns the terrorist attacks in Tehran today," the statement said, adding that "We express our condolences to the victims and their families, and send our thoughts and prayers to the people of Iran."

Also, the US Senate voted on Wednesday to proceed with a bill that would sanction Iran just hours after 13 Iranians lost their lives in two terrorist attacks in Tehran.

92 members voted to move forward with the legislation, with just seven voting against.

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