Takfiri militants, Israel two major threats to international security: Iran's Shamkhani

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani described Takfiri militants and the Israeli regime as the two major threats to international security, and deplored fake military coalitions for failing to tackle those menaces.

“Armed Takfiri groups that receive mental and financial support from certain regional countries as well as the Zionist regime are the two major threats to international security,” Shamkhani said at a meeting with Defense Minister of Armenia Vigen Sargsyan in Tehran on Wednesday. 

The senior Iranian official said it is unfortunate that coalitions formed “on the paper” have had no “defensible performance in countering the threats.

Shamkhani further warned that outsiders seek to create and escalate regional conflicts to increase their presence and interference in the internal affairs of regional countries and sell arms,

Elsewhere, he underlined that Iran will never seek permission from any country or international organization for boosting its conventional defense capabilities, adding, “We will strongly oppose any foreign interference in (our) defense affairs, including the Islamic Republic of Iran’s missile power.”

For his part, Sargsyan expressed Armenia’s willingness to enhance relations with Iran in all fields.

Hailing Iran’s “constructive role” in settling crises and creating stability, the Armenian official voiced opposition to any tension between neighbors in the region.

The Armenian defense minister arrived in Tehran on Monday night and met with his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan on Tuesday.