Iran Reacts to Paris Attacks

November 16, 2015
Iranian leaders condemned the ISIS attacks in Paris on November 13, but differed over who was primarily at fault. President Hassan Rouhani denounced the attacks as “anti-human crimes" and offered his condolences to "the mourning French nation." Other officials, such as judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli-Larijani, blamed the United States and Europe for "exporting terrorists to the region."
 
Iranian media differed widely in their coverage. Reformist newspapers ran cartoons and headlines expressing solidarity. Cartoonist Hadi Heidari published a widely distributed illustration in support of France, although he was reportedly arrested on November 16.
 
 
Many conservative newspapers, however, connected the attacks with the West's policies and intervention in the Middle East. A headline in Kayhan, a hardline newspaper, claimed, "ISIS's rabid dog bites its master." The following is a rundown of comments by Iranian leaders and newspapers.
 

Iranian Officials

President Hassan Rouhani

 
“Terrorist attacks, which killed and wounded a lot of innocent people in Paris, caused great sorrow and grief. I, on behalf of the great Iranian nation which has been a victim of scourge of terrorism, strongly condemn the anti-human crimes and condole the mourning French nation and government. Without a doubt, the most important message following these kinds of incidents is more serious resolve and determination in all-out combat against terrorist groups.”
– Nov. 14, 2015, in a message to French President Francois Hollande  
 
“Islam is the religion of peace and opposed to any act of terrorism. The terrorists’ attempts at contributing their atrocities to Islam is nothing but a big lie.”
 
“ISIL terrorists by carrying out this extremely shocking, brutal and despicable attack, have challenged all countries to battle, therefore a global unity for fighting ISIL is imperative.”
 
“We, as a country victimized by the scourge of terrorism, announce that we are ready to take any measures against terrorists in any part of the world.”
– Nov. 17, 2015, in a phone call with Hollande
 
“We hope that a group of countries trying to promote their objectives through instrumental use of terrorism, will be aware of the dangers of such a move.”
 
“Civilization and chronology of relations between the two great nations of Iran and France tell us with a loud voice that we should expand common relations in all fields.”
 
“Attacks of Daesh terrorists were like attack on all humanity and we should fight them in Syria and Iraq in a united and coordinated manner.” 
– Nov. 17, 2015, in a phone call with Hollande
 
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif
 
"The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns, in the strongest terms, the terrorist attacks, atrocities against the people of France. We sympathise and express our solidarity with the government and the people of France in this moment of sorrow as they face the scourge of terrorism, which is a global scourge. It requires a global response. We have always stated that we need to forge an international consensus, international unity in dealing with this very dangerous phenomenon."
– Nov. 14, 2015, according to the press
 
“The Paris incidents once again demonstrated that terrorism and extremism are international threats and battling them requires concerted global cooperation.”
 
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will be seriously active in this field [counterterrorism].”
– Nov. 14, 2015, according to the press
 
Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
 
"Certain regional and trans-regional states helped the ISIL to be born. We had warned that those countries which support the ISIL should know that these insecurities would spread to their countries too.”
 
"We cannot say explicitly that which country has played a role in the formation of the ISIL but (we can say that) ignoring those warnings ended in such consequences.”
– Nov. 16, 2015, according to the press
 
Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani
 
"I extend condolences, on behalf of myself and the Iranian parliament, to the French nation, parliament and government, over these inhuman crimes that run counter to human principles crimes and wish the recovery of those affected by this incident and hope that we will witness restoration of tranquility and security for the nations through the international community's serious determination to fight terrorism."
 
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always underlined the need for a common solution by all countries and nations for fighting terrorist actions expressing hatred and condemns these terrorist acts in any form and in any region."
– Nov. 14, 2015, according to the press
 
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari
 
“Those terrorist groups that committed the Paris crimes do not believe in ethical principles, and they are not loyal to any type of divine religions including Islam.”
– Nov. 14, 2015, according to the press
 
 
Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri
 
"The French people paid the price for their government's support for the ISIL and the Takfiri terrorism."
 
"The Paris and Beirut blasts are the two sides of the same coin and the international community expects the supporters of Takfiri terrorists, specially the US, France and other western governments, to give up their discriminatory approach and behavior and adopt a common and united position on these crimes."
– Nov. 14, 2015, according to the press
 
“The deadly terror attacks in Paris showed that if the French government and other Western and regional supporters of Takfiri terrorism had the necessary wisdom and foresight, they would have predicted the occurrence of such crimes in the heart of Europe.”
 
“Since the first months after the terrorist attacks were carried out by ISIL in Syria and neighboring countries, we repeatedly warned the European community that the scourge of terrorism would also catch up with them, and asked their people to pressure their governments into withdrawing their support for terrorists in the region.”
 
"If the West continues to support Takfiri terrorism, soon it will have to expect emergency situations in other parts of Europe.”
– Nov. 15, 2015, according to the press
 
Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli-Larijani
 
“The US statesmen should not only be reprimanded but they should stand trial for supporting terrorist groups and creating Daesh."
“Europeans and Americans must stop exporting terrorists to the region."
– Nov. 16, 2015, according to the press
 
“Their [Daesh’s] recent mass killing of innocent citizens in Paris following Beirut and Yemen is despicable; however, the main question is still going unanswered that who fostered ISIL and what conditions and environment gave rise to the terrorist group, to which the US and countries supporting ISIL should provide responses.”
 
“The western countries and some of their regional allies fill the political gap in some countries including Iraq in search of their interests, which led them to speak of disintegration of Iraq; West and the regional supporters of terrorism, which are reactionary as well and rule with iron fists in their fellow countries, depriving the multitudes of people of their freedom, have actively supported Al-Qaeda and ISIL.”
 
“…the EU heads of countries supporting ISIL should know that now ISIL is spiraling out of control and reports had said the European youth have been under the influence of the ISIL, which even if only a fraction, would prove disastrous.”
– Nov. 16, 2015, in a meeting with judiciary officials
 
Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi
 
“Of course, the recent bombings are a serious warning to us that needs the consideration of experts.
 
“The main priorities of the Intelligence Ministry are the provision of the country’s security and confronting the Takfiri movement.”
—Nov. 15, 2015 at a security conference in Tehran
 
Expediency Council Chairman and Former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
 
“One of the grave mistakes of the West was that for a long time they merely focused on Iran while terrorists were growing up among Salafis or even in European countries or among other religions and now have emerged in the form of al Qaeda, Daesh and the likes.
 
“If the world seeks to avoid such insecurity challenges, it should adopt a national and international determination to deal with extremism.”
—Nov. 17, 2015 in an address at the University of Technical and Vocational Training
 
Lieutenant Commander of the Revolutionary Guards Brigadier General Hossein Salami
 
“Europe's security system has collapsed and the entire Europe is now in a security shock which shows that their deceptions have backfired.”
—Nov. 18, 2015, according to Fars News Agency
 
Supreme Leader's Deputy Chief of Office for International Affairs Ayatollah Mohsen Qomi 
 
“The West was punished by the incident in France for its unreasonable supports for these terrorist groups and it is clear that we are not pleased with the killing of innocent people but these conditions are the result of the West-created plights in the Middle-East.”
—Nov. 18, 2015, according to Fars News Agency 
 
Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Gholam-Hossein Dehqani
 
“On behalf of the Member States of the Non- Aligned Movement, I would like to express the Movement’s sympathy with the families of the victims of the terrorist attacks committed by the terrorist group of Daesh (ISIL) during the last ten days in Paris, Beirut and Baghdad. The Movement strongly condemns those terrorist attacks and extends its condolences to the governments and peoples of France, Lebanon and Iraq. Those terrorist attacks once again proved that the terrorism and violent extremism are global threats, and combating them requires global cooperation.”
– Nov. 16, 2015, in a statement
 
First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri
 
“The voice of humanity should rise against terrorism in every part of the world; the international reaction to the killing of people in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon should be as strong as its opposition to the incidents in Paris or other parts where innocent people are victimized.”
– Nov. 15, 2015, according to the press
 
Army Commander Major General Ataollah Salehi
 
“Today terrorism has emerged in the region under different names of al-Qaeda, Taliban, Somali pirates and the ISIL and we should be aware of it.
 
“The West is the culprit behind the spread of corruption and terrorism and the western officials should know that they are nourishing a viper in their bosoms.”
—Nov. 18, 2015, to reporters
 
Member of Parliament Esmail Kowsari
 
 
Iranian Media
 
Reformist Newspapers
 
 
 
 
Hardline Newspapers