Iranians are observing a day of mourning after twin bombings in the city of Kerman resulted in the deaths of at least 84 people and left over 280 individuals wounded. The bombings occurred during a memorial for Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian general who was assassinated four years ago, further escalating tensions in the region. Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi confirmed the death toll on Thursday, with an earlier count of 103 revised due to repeated names on the victims’ list and dismembered bodies being counted multiple times, according to Jafar Miadfar, head of Iran’s emergency services. Among the wounded, 195 individuals remain in the hospital.
The attacks, the deadliest to target Iran since its 1979 Islamic revolution, took place minutes apart, causing panic among the attendees. While no group has claimed responsibility, there is speculation in Iran that the United States and Israel may be behind the bombings. Ali Hashem, reporting from Tehran, noted the confusion and unanswered questions surrounding the incident, stating that it is unclear whether it was a suicide bombing or a planted explosives scenario.
The bombings occurred on the fourth anniversary of Soleimani’s killing, who was the head of the elite Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The commemoration took place near his gravesite, attracting large crowds. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi declared a national day of mourning, canceling his planned trip to Turkey.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed the “evil and criminal enemies” of the country for the attack and promised a “harsh response.” The international community, including the United Nations, European Union, and various countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Germany, and Iraq, condemned the bombings.
The bombings came shortly after the killing of Saleh al-Arouri, a deputy leader of the Palestinian armed group Hamas, in a drone strike in Beirut. This, coupled with the ongoing war in Gaza, has raised concerns about further escalation in the region.
The situation remains tense as Iranians mourn the loss of lives and await further information on the perpetrators of the attacks.
