ISIS has claimed responsibility for the bomb attack in Iran which left 103 dead at the memorial parade for infamous Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.
The terror group identified two suicide bombers who carried out the blasts amid high Middle East tensions over the Israel-Hamas war.
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In a statement on Telegram, the group said two of its members “activated their explosives vests” at a gathering near the grave in the southern city of Kerman of slain Revolutionary Guards general Qasem Soleimani.
The terrorists responsible for the attack are named as Omar al-Muwahid and Sayfullah al-Mujahid.
The blasts, about 15 minutes apart, struck near the Martyrs Cemetery at the Saheb al-Zaman Mosque as supporters gathered to mark Soleimani’s death in a 2020 US drone strike in Baghdad.
The state TV reported 181 wounded with some in critical condition.
Among those killed were three paramedics who rushed to the scene after the first explosion, said Iran‘s Red Crescent.
Online footage showed panicked crowds scrambling to flee as security personnel cordoned off the area.
State television showed bloodied victims lying on the ground and ambulances and rescue personnel racing to help them.
“We were walking towards the cemetery when a car suddenly stopped behind us and a waste bin containing a bomb exploded,” an eyewitness was quoted saying by the ISNA news agency.
“We only heard the explosion and saw people falling.”
President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the “heinous” crime as the Islamic Republic of Iran declared Thursday a national day of mourning.
Following the devastating bombing, Iran vowed to “hunt down terrorists” and initially blamed Israel for killing of 103 people.
Iran’s political deputy, Mohammad Jamshidi, blamed the parade bombings in Iran on both the US and Israel.
However, the US dismissed any suggestions that Washington and Israel were involved.
Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has issued a statement on Wednesday, saying: “”Cruel criminals must know that they will be strongly dealt with from now on and undoubtedly there will be a harsh response.”
Wednesday’s incident comes amid the rise of tension in the Middle-east following more attacks on Lebanon.
A day earlier, top Hamas chief Saleh al-Arouri and Hezbollah leader Hussein Yazbek were killed in separate drone strikes.
There are now fears that the recent events could lead to a terrifying war across the Middle East.
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Aiya Zhussupova
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