Two explosions set off in the city of Kerman in Iran have killed about 100 people and injuring hundreds of others.
The bombs were detonated near a burial site for Iran’s ex-military commander Qasem Soleimani. A U.S. air strike killed Soleimani four years ago.
Since the blasts, Islamic State has since claimed responsibility for the attack. It’s one of the deadliest strikes on Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Background
A large group of people had gathered at the burial site of the former military commander, Qasem Soleimani, to mark four years since he was assassinated in an American drone strike.
Soleimani was the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force, which the U.S. lists as a terrorist organisation.
After his death, the U.S. said the strike was carried out to deter “future Iranian attack plans”.
The explosions
Two blasts went off 20 minutes apart near Soleimani’s burial site, according to Iran’s Interior Minister as quoted by state-controlled media.
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The United Nations said remote controls had detonated the bombs as thousands of people marched towards the cemetery.
In a letter to the UN Security Council, Iran’s ambassador said the explosions killed at least 103 people. Iran’s Health Ministry has revised the death toll down to 95. The blasts injured 211 others.
Who is responsible?
The Islamic State, via its Telegram Channel, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
IS has launched multiple attacks on Iran over the past few years.
Response
UN chief António Guterres swiftly condemned the blast.
Since then, Türkiye, Russia, and the European Union have also condemned the attack.
