11/3/2010Clinton designates Jundallah in Iran as foreign terrorist organization
Washington, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday announced the designation of Jundallah, a "violent extremist organization" that operates primarily in the province of Sistan va Balochistan of Iran, as a foreign terrorist organization.
The U.S. State Department acted in consultation with the departments of Justice and Treasury, the announcement said.
Since its inception in 2003, Jundallah has engaged in numerous attacks resulting in the death and maiming of scores of Iranian civilians and government officials, primarily in Iran's Sistan va Balochistan province, the department said. Jundallah uses a variety of terrorist tactics, including suicide bombings, ambushes, kidnappings and targeted assassinations, it noted.
Examples include the following, according to the announcement: In May 2009, Jundallah attacked the crowded Shiite Amir al-Moemenin mosque in Zahedan, destroying the mosque and killing and wounding numerous worshipers. An October 2009 bomb attack which killed more than 40 people was reportedly the deadliest terrorist attack in Iran since the 1980s. Following the February 2010 capture by Iranian authorities of Jundallah's ex-leader, Abdul Malik Rigi, the group selected a new leader, al-Hajj Mohammed Dhahir Baluch, and confirmed its commitment to continue its terrorist activities. Last July, Jundallah attacked the Grand Mosque in Zahedan, killing approximately 30 and injuring hundreds.
"Designations of terrorist organizations play a critical role in our fight against terrorism and are an effective means of curtailing support for terrorist activities and pressuring groups to abandon terrorism," the announcement said.
"The consequences of these designations include a prohibition against persons knowingly providing material support or resources to Jundallah, and the blocking of all property and interests in property of the organization that are in the United States, or come within the United States, or the control of U.S. persons."
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