Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly explosions in Iran

2024-01-04 18:44:23, Kosova & Bota CNA

Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly explosions in Iran

People loading injured people into ambulances from explosions that rocked Iran on Wednesday, January 3, 2024.

The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for two blasts in Iran that killed at least 84 people during the anniversary of a former Iranian commander who was killed four years ago by a US airstrike.

In a statement on Telegram on Thursday, the militant group said two of its members "activated vests filled with explosives" at the rally marking the anniversary of the killing of Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the elite Quds Force, on Wednesday in the city of Kerman.

Wednesday's blasts have fueled fears that the conflict could widen in the region as Israel continues its fight against the US and EU-designated terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Yemen's Houthi rebel group. which is linked to Iran, is continuing its attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea.

About 284 were injured by these two explosions, according to him.

Iranian authorities declared January 4 a day of mourning for the victims of the explosions.

The commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps dismissed reports in Iranian media that there was gunfire in Kerman on Thursday.

Earlier on Thursday, an aide to Iran's president blamed Israel and the United States for the blasts.

The United States has rejected claims that Israel or Washington were responsible for the blasts.

The President of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi, vowed that "undoubtedly, the authors of this cowardly act will be identified and punished for their act soon by the security and law enforcement forces."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the blasts, while the US deputy special envoy for Iran told Radio Free Europe's Farda that the United States was following developments closely.

"And while information is still coming in, we, like everywhere, are saddened by any loss of civilian life. We will continue to monitor the situation closely," Abram Paley.

Soleimani's death anniversaries have drawn large crowds before.

At Soleimani's funeral in 2020, thousands of people attended and crushed each other, leaving 56 dead and more than 200 injured.

Soleimani was the architect of Iran's regional military activities and was considered a national icon among supporters of the theocracy in Iran./ REL