IS terror in Iran

The IS has claimed responsibility for the attack on the parliament and Khomeini Mausoleum in Tehran on Wednesday. If the IS really was responsible this would be the first attack carried out by the Sunni terror organisation against the major Shiite power in the Middle East. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have also blamed Saudi Arabia and the US for the bloodshed. How can further escalation of the conflict between Sunnis and Shiites be prevented?

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Tages-Anzeiger (CH) /

Middle East states must join forces

The terrorist attack in Iran shows how important it is for the region to take joint action against the IS, Tages-Anzeiger believes:

“IS has often tried to bring terror to Iran. Now, during Ramadan, unlike with previous attempts the security forces weren't able to prevent the attacks; the interior minister spoke of dozens of attacks having been prevented. The IS has so far had little success recruiting Sunni Muslims in Iran. The IS's terror can only be combatted effectively if the situation in Iraq and Syria is stabilised and peace is established there. For that to happen the states of the region must work together - also with Iran. But sadly right now there doesn't seem to be any sign of that. On the contrary, we see new divides and conflicts, fuelled by Donald Trump's amateurish Middle East policy.”

The Daily Telegraph (GB) /

IS playing its enemies off against each other

The attack in Tehran will escalate the conflict between Iran and the Gulf states, The Daily Telegraph comments:

“In its choice of target and timing, Isil has shown, once again, its skill in exploiting the rivalries of its enemies - setting them against one another to buy itself greater room for manoeuvre. ... Tehran's reaction to today's attack is likely to involve an escalation of tensions with Riyadh, which might contribute to widening the diplomatic rift with Qatar, consuming Gulf attention and resources. For Isil, that polarisation between its various foes helps to maintain a role it has cultivated over a number of years: everyone's problem, nobody's priority.”

Avvenire (IT) /

Hypocritical West burning its fingers

Those in the West who now warn of the danger represented by Saudi Arabia are forgetting one key issue, Avvenire points out:

“In answer to the shifts in the old equilibrium the Sunnis in the Middle East made a pact with Western countries that didn't hesitate to supply them with weapons of all kinds. ... To start warning all of a sudden against the 'Wahhabist threat' is simply embarrassing after the West has acted like the three wise monkeys for the past three decades. It insisted on seeing, hearing and speaking no evil while at the same time supporting and cheering on the oil monarchies, the cradle of militant Wahhabism, while imposing sanctions of all kinds on Shiite Iran. We've become mixed up in a conflict we barely understand, and now stand to have our fingers burned.”