Iran, Pakistan won't let enemies damage brotherly ties: Tehran

Following a deadly attack targeting Pakistani nationals inside Iran, the Islamic Republic says Tehran and Islamabad will not tolerate affliction of damage to the countries' relations.

"Iran and Pakistan will not allow enemies to cause damage to the countries' brotherly relations," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said on Saturday.

His remarks came hours after unknown assailants gunned down at least nine Pakistani nationals and injured three others in the suburb of the city of Saravan in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan and Baluchestan.

The atrocity was perpetrated by three gunmen, who attacked the residence housing the victims, and fled the scene after causing the casualties, said the province's Deputy Governor for Security and Law Enforcement, Alireza Marhamati.

The police reached the scene of the attack in its immediate aftermath, Marhamati noted, asserting, "Sistan and Baluchestan's judicial, security, and intelligence apparatuses will, without doubt, confront the elements causing insecurity in the province decisively."

Adding to his remarks, Kan'ani vehemently condemned the attack and condoled with the Pakistani government and the survivors.

Iran's relevant authorities are continuing their investigation into the tragedy, he noted.

Pakistan: Attack work of 'common enemies'

Also on Saturday, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani lamented the attack, considering it to be an effort on the part of the countries' "common enemies" to disrupt their mutual ties.

The top diplomat extended his condolences to the families of the victims, urging the Iranian government to take due action against the elements behind the attack.

The two neighboring countries witnessed an escalation of cross-border tensions over Iran's counter-terrorism operations.

On January 16, Iran launched simultaneous drone and missile attacks on two bases of Jaish ul-Adl, a terror outfit that was formed in 2012 and has conducted several attacks on Iranian soil in recent years.

The group claimed responsibility for an attack in December 2023 on a police station in the southeastern city of Rask that killed at least 11 Iranian police officers.

On January 10, another attack by the group on a police station in the city killed one officer.

Pakistan carried out strikes on January 17 against, what it called were, bases of the separatist Baloch Liberation Front and Baloch Liberation Army in regions close to Iran’s border.

Tehran condemned the attack as unacceptable and unbalanced.

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