FOR years Iran, a predominantly Shia Muslim state, has battled Sunni extremists inside Iraq and Syria, making it a prime target for terrorism. Yet it had somehow gone over a decade without suffering a big attack. During his successful presidential campaign this year, Hassan Rouhani often celebrated this achievement. The jihadists of Islamic State (IS), though, may have seen it as a challenge. In recent months they have increased their propaganda efforts, hoping to incite Iran’s restive Sunni minority. And indeed, Iranian intelligence claims to have foiled several plots inspired by IS.
But on June 7th, IS claimed success. Assailants armed with assault rifles and suicide vests attacked two of the country’s landmarks. Four of them stormed the parliament in central Tehran, the capital, where heavy gunfire could be heard for hours. At least one of the assailants blew himself up, and the others were killed by security forces. Meanwhile two other assailants attacked the mausoleum...Continue reading
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