Al-Qaeda-linked operatives nabbed in Iran: Official

“The Intelligence Ministry carries out very good and effective measures to counter elements [seeking] to undermine security in the country,” Ali Khazei added.

He noted that after the September 11, 2011 attacks, the Intelligence Ministry has been constantly involved in issues related to al-Qaeda terrorists in Iran as the group is making every effort to trigger insecurity in the country.

Khazaei said terrorist groups have failed to achieve their goals given major efforts made by Iran’s Intelligence Ministry.

He further added that terrorist groups and the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) Takfiri militants are committing crimes in Muslim countries, including Iraq, with the support of the Israeli regime and the US.

Takfiri groups and ISIL are not enemies only to Shia Muslims as they have spelled out their hostility to Sunni Muslims as well, the official said, adding their recent crimes in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul are a clear example of that.

On June 10, the militants took control of Nineveh Province, including its capital Mosul, in a lightning advance, forcing “over 500,000 people in and around the city” to flee, according to Geneva-based International Organization for Migration (IOM).

During the past week, the so-called ISIL has continued its raids southward and has captured some other areas including the capital of Salah al-Din Province, Tikrit, where according to the IOM around 40,000 people have been displaced.