Iranian officials said that unspecified “terrorists” were responsible for the death of commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a U.S. drone in 2020. At a ceremony held on Wednesday, two explosions killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores।
Iranian officials said that unspecified “terrorists” were responsible for the death of commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a US drone in 2020. At a ceremony held on Wednesday, two explosions killed nearly 100 people and wounded scores।
During a crowded fourth-anniversary event at Soleimani’s cemetery in Kerman, southeastern Iran, Iranian state television broadcasted a first blast and then a second blast after 20 minutes।
No one was held responsible for the blasts। In Washington, a senior Biden administration official said that the blasts appeared to be a “terrorist attack” similar to those carried out by Islamic State militants in the past।
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei promised revenge for the bloody twin bombings, and President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran denounced the incident as “heinous and inhumane।”
Khamenei, according to state media, said in a statement, “Cruel criminals… must know that they will be strongly dealt with from now on and… undoubtedly there will be a harsh response।”
Numerous nations, including Russia and Turkey, denounced the attacks, and the UN Secretary-General demanded that the culprits be held accountable।
Iranian Health Minister Bahram Eynollahi told state TV that this was the deadliest attack in the history of the Islamic Republic, which has faced similar attacks from various groups, including Islamic State. He also said the death toll was 95, down from 103, and 211 others were injured। Iran has previously accused Israel of attacks on individuals or places within its borders, which Israel has neither confirmed nor denied. However, no evidence indicates that a foreign state was involved in the explosions in the cemetery।
There has been no indication that Israel was behind the explosions, according to the US। White House National Security spokesman John Kirby ने कहा
“Two explosive devices planted along the road leading to Kerman’s Martyrs’ Cemetery were detonated remotely by terrorists,” an unnamed official told state news agency IRNA।
Videos aired by Iranian state media showed dozens of dead bodies strewn around, with some bystanders trying to help survivors and others rushing out of the blast site।
I heard a loud sound and felt pain in my back..। A wounded woman at a Kerman hospital told state television, “then I could not feel my legs।”
Hundreds of Iranians had gathered to mark the anniversary of Soleimani’s killing at the ceremony, where wounded people were tended by Iran’s Red Crescent rescuers। The number of wounded was much higher, according to some Iranian news agencies।
Despite all the security and safety measures, a horrible sound was heard there। Kerman Red Crescent Society chief Reza Fallah told state television that the matter was still under investigation।
Later, the state news agency reported that the cemetery had been evacuated and closed for the time being। The government declared Thursday a day of mourning।
Although the authorities did not publicly attribute anyone for the attacks, Iran’s top Quds force commander, Esmail Qaani, said the attacks were carried out by “the agents of the Zionist regime (Israel) and the United States।”
Tehran often blames Israel and the United States for supporting anti-Iran militant groups।
At night, crowds gathered at the cemetery chanted “Death to Israel” and “Death to America” on state television।
There is no reason to believe that Israel was involved in the explosions, and the United States was not involved in any way। In a regular news briefing, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said
Iran’s foreign ministry said it will use all international means to find and bring to justice those involved in the attacks and their advocates। In the meantime, President Raisi canceled his scheduled visit to Turkey on Thursday।
In 2022, the Islamic State, a Sunni Muslim militant group, was responsible for a deadly attack on a Shiite shrine in Iran that killed 15 people।
The group has previously claimed to have committed attacks, including deadly twin bombings in 2017 aimed at Iran’s parliament and the tomb of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini। Iran has also been the target of attacks by Baluchi militants and ethnic Arab separatists।
The United States and Iran were nearing a full-blown conflict after the US killed Soleimani in a drone attack at Baghdad airport on January 3, 2020, and Tehran responded by attacking two Iraqi military bases housing US troops।
Soleimani was the chief commander of Iran’s IRGC’s elite Quds force, which is the overseas arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He also conducted clandestine operations abroad and was an important part of Iran’s long-term effort to drive US forces out of the Middle East।
Tension between Iran and Israel, as well as its ally, the United States, has escalated as a result of Israel’s war on Hamas militants in Gaza. This is a retaliation for Iran’s October 7 raid through southern Israel।
Yemen’s Houthi militia, which is backed by Iran, has attacked ships that they claim have links to Israel in the entrance to the Red Sea, which is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes।
Over the backing of Israel and Washington, US forces have been attacked by Iran-backed militants in Iraq and Syria. The United States has also carried out their own retaliatory airstrikes।
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