Two big explosions happened in Iran during a ceremony to remember Qassem Soleimani. Almost 100 people died, and many were hurt. Iranian officials said it was caused by "terrorists."
Two big explosions happened in Iran during a ceremony for Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a U.S. drone in 2020. Almost 100 people died, and many were hurt. Iranian officials said it was caused by "terrorists." It all took place at a crowded event at a cemetery in the city of Kerman where Soleimani is buried. Iranian TV said there was a first blast, then another 20 minutes later.
Iran's Health Minister, Bahram Eynollahi, said on state TV that 95 people died and 211 were injured in the explosions. He mentioned this was the worst attack ever in Iran's history. In the past, Iran blamed Israel for attacks, but this time, there's no proof any foreign country was involved.
The United States doesn't think Israel caused the blasts either, as stated by White House national security spokesperson John Kirby.
According to an unnamed official on Iran's state news agency IRNA, terrorists set off two bombs near the road to Kerman's Martyrs' Cemetery using remote control.
Videos shown on Iranian state media displayed many injured people lying on the ground, with some people trying to help them while others rushed away from the blast site.
One woman, injured and in a Kerman hospital, mentioned to state TV, "I heard a very loud sound and then felt pain in my back... then I could not feel my legs."
At the ceremony, Iran's Red Crescent rescuers were helping the injured. There were hundreds of people at the event, and some reports suggested there were even more injured than initially mentioned.
Reza Fallah, head of the Kerman Red Crescent Society, said, "A terrible sound was heard there, despite all the security and safety measures. The matter is still under investigation," to state TV.
Afterwards, the state news agency reported that the cemetery was cleared and closed for the time being. The government declared Thursday as a day of mourning.
Although no one officially blamed anyone, Esmail Qaani, a top commander of Iran's Quds force, said that "the agents of the Zionist regime (Israel) and the United States" were responsible for the attacks.
Iran often blames its enemies, Israel and the United States, for supporting groups against Iran.
Videos on state TV showed many people gathered at the cemetery at night shouting, "Death to Israel" and "Death to America."
The United States, as stated by U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, had no part in the explosions. They also have no evidence suggesting Israel was involved.
Iran's foreign ministry declared it will use all international means to find and punish those responsible for the attacks and their supporters. President Raisi canceled a trip to Turkey because of this.
In the past, there have been attacks claimed by the Islamic State, like the one in 2022 at a Shi'ite shrine that killed 15 people. Other attacks, such as twin bombings in 2017 at Iran's parliament and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's tomb, were also attributed to them. Different groups, like Baluchi militants and ethnic Arab separatists, have also attacked Iran.
The U.S. killed Soleimani in 2020, which led to Iran attacking U.S. military bases in Iraq. This nearly caused a big conflict between the two countries.
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