The United Nations and the European Union Commission have strongly condemned the attack on Wednesday at memorial ceremony in Kerman city in the Islamic Republic of Iran, reportedly killed more than 100 people and injured many more
In a separate statement the UN Secretary- General, Antonio Guterres who on behalf of the United Nations called for those responsible to be held accountable.
This was attributed to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-general on Iran expressed his deep condolences to the bereaved families and the people and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran while wished the injured a speedy recovery.
In a statement, the EU condemned in the strongest terms today’s bombing in the city of Kerman in Iran, expressed its solidarity with the Iranian people.
“This act of terror has exacted a shocking toll of civilian deaths and injuries. Our thoughts now are with the victims and their families. Perpetrators must be held accountable”, the statement stated.
It was reported that over 100 people have been killed in twin bombings near the tomb of Qasem Soleimani, the former head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which happened next to Qasem Soleimani’s tomb on the fourth anniversary of his assassination.
In a report of Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, this Wednesday evening, it is said that the attack took place on the people gathered at the Saheb Al-Zaman Mosque located in the southern city of Kerman, Iran. 173 people were injured.
IRIB is describing it as a terrorist attack, quoting the deputy governor of Kerman province. A video of the incident has gone viral online. It can be seen that after the explosion, many wounded bodies are lying on the road around the mosque.
According to a BBC report, hundreds of people were walking towards Qasem Soleimani’s grave on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of his death.
At this time, the explosion happened. It should be noted that Qasem Soleimani was killed in a US drone attack on Baghdad airport in Iraq on January 3, 2020.
Qassem Soleimani was considered the country’s “most powerful man” after Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
As commander of the IRGC, Soleimani oversaw the Quds Force, which was responsible for conducting the force’s operations in the outside world.
He was regarded as the architect of Tehran’s Middle East policy, being the mastermind behind Iran’s geopolitical strategy in the Middle East.
Washington considered Qassem Soleimani a threat to US policy in the Middle East. In 2020, US President Donald Trump ordered the assassination of Soleimani. Trump also described Qasem Soleimani as “the most notorious terrorist in the world”.