FNA - Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi warned the terrorists who have abducted the country's border guards that they would soon experience Tehran's crushing response.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has shown that it will not tolerate acts by any terrorist group at its borders and undoubtedly, such acts will face the Iranian Armed Forces' firm and serious confrontation," Qassemi told FNA on Wednesday.


He referred to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi's phone talks on the case earlier today, saying that Zarif condemned the terrorist act and called for the Pakistani security forces' more serious protection of the two countries' borders.


According to Qassemi, the Pakistani envoy to Tehran was also summoned to the foreign ministry on Tuesday to hear Iran's protest and concerns about the fate of the country's border guards.


"Given the type of relations, neighborhood and contacts between the two countries, the outlaw groups will not attain their goals by such acts and will not succeed and they will, no doubt, pay a heavy price for this unwise act," he added.


The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force in a statement on Tuesday blasted foreign enemies for the abduction of 11 Iranian Basijis (volunteer forces) and border guards by a terrorist group in Mirjaveh border in Southeastern Sistan-Balouchestan province on Monday night.


"Last night (Monday night) a number of Basij forces and forces of border regiment who were stationed in the zero border point in Mirjaveh were kidnapped by counterrevolutionary groups," the public relations of the IRGC Ground Force's Qods Headquarters said in its statement.


The IRGC pointed to the fortified positions of Iranian border regiment, and said, "Members of a terrorist group that is supported by foreign intelligence services after deceiving some traitors managed to abduct Iran's border guards along the common border with Pakistan."


It noted that the operations against the terrorists and the outlaws as well as the needed measures to set free the abducted Basijis and border guards tops agenda of the security forces stationed along the border regions, and said, "We expect the Pakistani government to seriously deal with the outlaws and terrorists who are stationed along the borders and are supported by some reactionary countries of the region while expediting releasing the abducted Basijis and handing them over to border guards."


According to reports, the incident happened in Lulakdan village, near the border of Pakistan, at around 4 a.m. local time.


The Iranian forces were participating in a plan to boost the security of Mirjaveh border unit.


Jeish al-Adl terrorist group, whose base is in Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for abduction of the Iranian border guards.


In relevant remarks earlier today, IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari warned the terrorists who kidnapped the Iranian border guards of Iran's crushing response.


"They (the terrorists) anesthetized the Iranian forces because they were sure that they cannot attain their goal while the Iranian forces are conscious," General Jafari told reporters in the Northern city of Semnan on Wednesday.


He downplayed the terrorists' method to abduct the Iranian border guards, and said, "God willing, they will face our harsh and crushing response."


General Jafari described fomenting insecurity in Iran as an important goal pursued by enemies, spearheaded by the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia, and said, "We are aware of their plots and investments (financial aids to terrorists) but most of these plots are foiled by our preparedness and superiority."