Terror attack in Iranian city of Kerman leaves at least 103 dead and 188 injured
At least 103 people were killed and 188 injured in a terror attack in the Iranian city of Kerman on Wednesday. The twin blasts occurred near the burial site of slain military commander Qasem Soleimani and came on the fourth anniversary of his death in a US air strike.
State TV reported that at least one of the blasts was caused by a bomb, and the explosions threaten to accelerate tensions in the region following the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The first explosion occurred 2,300 feet from Soleimani’s grave, and the second was 0.6 miles away as pilgrims visited the site, according to IRNA, another state television channel.
In response to the blasts, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi blamed Israel and warned that the country would pay a “heavy price” for the crime.
The US State Department spokesperson, Matt Miller, stated that the US does not have any independent information about the explosions and has no reason to believe that Israel was involved.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Iran would have a “harsh response” to the perpetrators.
The blast occurred amid heightened tensions in the region as Israel continues its war against Hamas in Gaza, a conflict that has left more than 23,000 people dead.
Both the European Union and the United Nations chief Antonio Guterres condemned the blasts and called for the perpetrators to be held responsible.
Iran has declared Thursday a day of mourning following the blasts, and the Iranian president canceled his upcoming trip to Turkey. The White House stated that it wasn’t seeking a wider conflict and is monitoring the situation.
The situation continues to evolve, and the international community is closely watching as tensions in the region escalate.