TABNAK, Dec 08: According to Commander of Iran's Border Guard Police Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi, the wall is being constructed plan at the Hangeh-ye Zhal border of Baneh (border city with Iraq).
He explained that the plan would be completed within three to five years at a cost of three billion euros.
Back in October, Kordestan’s Border Guard Commander Brigadier Mohammad Aref Sepehri said the construction of a wall at Iran’s western borders would be complete within three years.
On October 20, Brigadier General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi, commander of the Iranian Police Border Guards, underscored that while Iran is looking to build walls along all its eastern and western border provinces, the regions sharing borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan must be included more urgently.
Goudarzi asserted that “the border wall aims to prevent the smuggling of fuel, goods, and narcotics while also curbing illegal immigration.” He also emphasized that around 80% of illegal drugs in Iran originate from the borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Sealing Iran's border with Pakistan is crucial for addressing security challenges in the Sistan and Baluchestan province, which has faced numerous attacks on civilians and security forces In the past years.
The Jaish al-Adl terrorist group, known inside Iran as Jaish al-Zulm and backed by Israeli and Western intelligence, has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of innocent Iranians.
The terrorist group's most recent attack occurred on October 26, which coincided with Israeli airstrikes on Iran. Members of the terror outfit ambushed two vehicles in Taftan county, killing 10 soldiers and police officers.
Iran is encountering similar challenges along its border with Afghanistan. Three of the deadliest attacks that have hit Iran in recent years were carried out by terrorists that had entered the country through the Afghan borders. The attacks include two in Shiraz in 2022 and 2023, and one in Kerman in 2024 which killed about 100 people.
An influx of illegal refugees is another issue Iran is trying to address. After years of occupation by the U.S., Afghan civilians grappling with poverty and insecurity are increasingly leaving the war-stricken country in pursuit of money or safety.