The Islamic State (IS) militant group had earlier claimed responsibility for the attacks in Kerman on Wednesday, the deadliest in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a funeral for victims of a terrorist bombing in Kerman, Iran on January 5, 2024. Photo: WANA
Iran's Intelligence Ministry said in a statement that security forces had arrested two people for assisting the two suicide bombers in Kerman and nine others in other parts of Iran suspected of being involved in the incident.
As the victims were buried on Friday, mourners wept over their coffins and crowds chanted “revenge, revenge,” state television reported.
Iran's Intelligence Ministry said its agents seized explosive devices and raw materials, explosive vests, remote controls, detonators and thousands of bullets used in explosive vests. One of the suicide bombers was identified as a Tajik national.
On Thursday, the Islamic State said two of its members detonated explosive belts in a crowd gathered to mourn Soleimani. “We will find you wherever you are,” Revolutionary Guards commander Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami said at the funeral at Kerman’s Imam Ali religious center.
"Our forces will decide where and when to act," Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said in a televised speech.
Communications intercepted by the United States also confirmed that the Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan (ISIS-K) carried out the twin bombings in Iran, two sources familiar with the intelligence told Reuters on Friday. “The intelligence is clear and undeniable,” one source said.
ISIS-K has been accused of being behind several attacks in Iran over the past five years. Most of those arrested are Iranians, Central Asians or Afghans from the IS affiliate in Afghanistan, rather than from the group’s network in Iraq and Syria.
IS, a Sunni Muslim group, harbors a deep hatred for Shiite Muslims, who make up the majority of Muslims in Iran and are often targeted in Afghanistan. IS views Shiite Muslims as apostates.
Huy Hoang (according to WANA, Reuters)
Source
Comment (0)