Two bomb blasts in Iran on January 3 killed at least 95 people and wounded scores near slain general Soleimani’s burial site on the fourth anniversary of his assassination by the US, according to Iran’s state media.
The two blasts happened with a gap of 20 minutes during a crowded ceremony in the southeastern city of Kerman where hundreds of Iranians had gathered to commemorate commander Soleimani who was killed by a U.S. drone in 2020.
An unnamed official told state news agency IRNA that “two explosive devices planted along the road leading to Kerman’s Martyrs’ Cemetery were detonated remotely by terrorists”.
Videos aired by Iranian state media showed dozens of bloodied bodies on a road and ambulances rushing to the scene.
Iranian Health Minister Bahram Eynollahi confirmed to State TV that 95 people had been killed in the attacks while 211 people were injured, with 27 in critical condition. This makes the Kerman incident the deadliest attack in the 42-year history of Iran, which has previously encountered similar incidents from various groups, including Islamic State.
After completing the rescue operation, the cemetery was evacuated and closed till further notice. The Iranian government has announced that it would observe a day of mourning on Thursday.
Iran, other countries condemn blasts
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in a statement expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and vowed to revenge the attacks with a “harsh response”.
“The evil and criminal enemies of the Iranian nation once again created a disaster and martyred a large number of dear people in Kerman,” he said.
“Cruel criminals … must know that they will be strongly dealt with from now on and … undoubtedly there will be a harsh response,” Khamenei said in a statement, according to state media.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the “heinous and inhumane crime” saying that it was carried out by “Iran-hating criminals and the henchmen of terror and darkness”.
Several countries, including Turkey, Russia, and the European Union also condemned the attacks. The EU said it condemned the bombing “in the strongest terms” and expressed its “solidarity with the Iranian people”, while Russian President Vladimir Putin called the attack “shocking in its cruelty and cynicism”.
The U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his “deep condolences to the bereaved families and the people and the government” of Iran and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
Responsibility for the blasts
No one claimed responsibility for the bloody twin bombings. The Iranian authorities have also not yet publicly blamed any group for the attacks. However, top commander of Iran’s Quds force Esmail Qaani claimed the blasts were carried out by “the agents of the Zionist regime (Israel) and the United States”.
Tehran has in the past blamed its arch enemies Israel and the US for attacks on individual people or places within its borders, and has accused the two countries of backing anti-Iran militant groups as well. However, there was no indication of any involvement of a foreign state in the cemetery blasts, according to media reports.
Eye witness statements
“A terrible sound was heard there, despite all the security and safety measures. The matter is still under investigation,” the head of the Kerman Red Crescent Society Reza Fallah told Iranian State TV.
“I heard a very loud sound and then felt pain in my back … then I could not feel my legs,” a wounded woman at a Kerman hospital told state TV.
“We were walking towards the cemetery when a car suddenly stopped behind us and a waste bin containing a bomb exploded,” another witness was quoted as saying by Iranian news agency. “We only heard the sound of the explosion and saw people falling.”