The country of Iran is facing devastation after two explosions minutes apart targeted a commemoration for general Qassem Soleimani, killing at least 103 people and wounding at least 141 others. The attack took place in Kerman, about 510 miles southeast of the capital, Tehran. Iranian state media labeled the attack as “terroristic” and no group has yet claimed responsibility for the blasts.
While Israel has previously carried out attacks in Iran over its nuclear program, it has not conducted mass-casualty bombings. Sunni extremist groups such as ISIS have carried out large-scale attacks in Shiite-majority Iran, but not in the relatively peaceful Kerman.
The event marking the fourth anniversary of the killing of General Qassem Soleimani was targeted by the explosions, which occurred near his gravesite in Kerman. The second blast occurred approximately 15 minutes after the first, potentially indicating a deliberate attempt to target emergency personnel responding to the scene.
There are several potential suspects behind the attack, including exile groups, militant organizations, and state actors. The United States and Israel have both denied any involvement, with the U.S. State Department stating that the U.S. was not involved in any way and any suggestion to the contrary is “ridiculous.”
General Qassem Soleimani was a prominent figure in Iran’s theocracy, instrumental in Iran’s regional military activities and securing the Syrian government under President Bashar Assad. His death in a U.S. drone strike in 2020 resulted in large processions, and the recent attack in Kerman marks a devastating reminder of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.