'Afghanistan, Pakistan Daesh next target'

Iran's Intelligence Minister Seyyed Mahmoud Alavi warned that the Daesh terrorist group which has sustained heavy defeats in Iraq and Syria is now attempting to find a new shelter, naming Afghanistan and Pakistan as its main target.

"The Daesh has lost land but it has not surrendered its arms and is after occupying lands in Afghanistan, Pakistan and anywhere else possible to revive the idea of Islamic caliphate," Alavi said, addressing a forum in Tehran on Tuesday.

He also referred to US President Donald Trump's controversial decision to recognize Bait al-Moqaddas (Jerusalem al-Quds) as Israel's capital, and said the decision came after the terrorists, including the Daesh, sustained a deadly blow and their supporters grew disappointed and adopted crazy behavior.

Alavi expressed pleasure that the world is aware of the dangers of Trump's decision and avoided support.

In relevant remarks in November, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that the Daesh terrorist group is a danger which threatens the region, including Afghanistan.

Zarif made the remarks in a meeting with Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan Tadamichi Yamamoto in Tehran.

EA