Iranian hardline daily blames Israel for bombings that killed dozens

DPA
·2 min read
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A view of the scene after explosions at a commemoration ceremony next to the tomb of Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief of foreign operations Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in the Saheb al-Zaman mosque. With around 100 people dead, Iran's government called the blasts a terrorist attack. The causes of the deadliest attack in the 45-year history of the Islamic Republic remain unclear. Fars/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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An editorial in Iran's arch-conservative Kayhan newspaper blamed Israel for the attack that killed dozens of people near the tomb of Iranian general Quassem Soleimani on the fourth anniversary of his assassination by the United States.

There are many reasons to assume "that the Zionists were involved in the terrorist explosions," according to Thursday's editorial in the paper read by influential Iranian hardliners.

The authors demanded swift revenge, warning that failing to retaliate could lead to other attacks, perhaps in the capital Tehran.

Iran's leadership reacted cautiously after the explosions in the city of Kerman on Wednesday and avoided apportioning blame.

In Washington, the State Department rejected claims the US was involved in the attack and said there was no reason to believe Israel was behind it either.

On the anniversary of the death of the powerful general, two huge explosions occurred in his home town of Kerman near his burial site as commemorations were taking place. At least 84 people were killed.

Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq in 2020.

A view of the scene after explosions at a commemoration ceremony next to the tomb of Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief of foreign operations Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in the Saheb al-Zaman mosque. With around 100 people dead, Iran's government called the blasts a terrorist attack. The causes of the deadliest attack in the 45-year history of the Islamic Republic remain unclear. Fars/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa