In comments prompted by the deadly 13 February attack against IRGC forces in south-eastern Iran, Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani claimed that "Saudi cash has influence Pakistan", and warned Pakistan "not to allow their borders to become a source of insecurity for neighbouring countries". He added that "Iran will take revenge of its martyrs from those mercenaries who have committed this crime no matter where they are in the world. We will punish this wicked group in any part of the world and we will not allow the blood of our youth to be shed in the country and cleaned [and forgotten] easily".