3rd January, 2024
At least 103 people have been killed after two bombs exploded near the tomb of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani on Wednesday.
The bombs went off during the fourth anniversary of Soleimani’s assassination by the US.
At least, 141 others were injured bomb explosions in the Iranian city of Kerman.
Iranian officials have called the explosion a terrorist attack.
Soleimani was killed by a US airstrike ordered by former President Donald Trump at Baghdad International Airport four years ago.
The general was seen as the most powerful figure in Iran after the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, before he was killed in a US drone strike in neighbouring Iraq in 2020.
The CNN reports that the first explosion was 2,300 feet (700 meters) from Soleimani’s grave, and the second was 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) away as pilgrims visited the site.
According to the BBC, Videos showed bodies on a road and ambulances rushing to the scene.
It was not clear who was behind the explosions and there were no immediate claims from any groups.
“We were walking towards the cemetery when a car suddenly stopped behind us and a waste bin containing a bomb exploded,” a witness was quoted by Isna news agency as saying.
The CNN quoted IRINN, another Iranian state television channel, as reporting that the first explosion near the grave of Soleimani was caused by a bomb placed in a suitcase inside a Peugeot 405 car, and appeared to be detonated remotely.
Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the perpetrators of the explosions in Kerman would receive a crushing response from Iran’s security and intelligence bodies in the shortest time possible.
“Everything is under control. There’s nothing to worry about, as our forces are prepared and vigilant and will slap the enemies in their faces,” he said.
He also accused Mossad of carrying out the deadly attack.
“I have not the slightest doubt that the Mossad was behind the terrorist attack in Iran, which was aimed at killing civilians,” he added.
According to him, “The first explosion occurred at 3 PM, and when people gathered to help, the second explosion happened. Most of the martyrs and injured were affected by the second explosion.”