Iran has been shaken by a double attack near the tomb of Qasem Soleimani, a prominent Iranian general who led the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guard until his death in a U.S. bombing in Iraq in 2020. The incident occurred during a procession commemorating the fourth anniversary of Soleimani’s death, resulting in conflicting reports about the death toll. Iranian authorities initially reported a higher number, but on Thursday, they revised it down to 84 casualties.
The Attack and Its Impact:
The attacks involved two explosions near Soleimani’s tomb in the Garden of Martyrs in Kerman. The explosives, placed in bags, were activated by remote control, causing devastation during the memorial event. The first explosion occurred about 700 meters from the tomb, followed by a second blast in a nearby area. The government declared January 4 as a national day of mourning, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
Iranian Response and Investigation:
Iranian officials, including Minister of the Interior Ahmad Vahidi, emphasized the seriousness of the attack, denouncing it as a “bitter and cowardly act.” Vahidi highlighted that security and intelligence agencies are in control of the situation, assuring that everything is normal and calm in Kerman. He vowed that those responsible for the “terrorist incident” would be captured and face consequences.
Vahidi acknowledged the dedication of health services, which conducted 111 surgeries on the injured. The number of wounded stands at 282, with 220 still hospitalized. While some are in serious condition, the minister cautioned that the death toll could change based on the evolving health status of the injured.
Israeli Accusations:
The first vice president of Iran, Mohamad Mojbar, visited the scene and pointed to Israel as the responsible party behind the attack. He claimed that the Zionist regime, incapable of direct confrontation, orchestrated the incident in a desperate response to recent events. Mojbar linked the attack to the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation by Hamas, asserting that such acts demonstrate the imminent demise of the Israeli regime.
International Ramifications:
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, decried the attack as a “catastrophe” caused by the “evil and criminal enemies” of Iran. President Ebrahim Raisi promised to identify and punish those responsible for this “atrocious act.” The incident comes on the heels of rising tensions in the region, including the recent death of Razi Mousavi, a senior official of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, in an Israeli bombing in Damascus.
As Iran grapples with the aftermath of the double attack near Qasem Soleimani’s tomb, the nation mourns the loss of lives and grapples with the broader implications of the incident. The accusations against Israel add a layer of complexity to the situation, potentially escalating tensions in an already volatile region. The international community will be closely watching as Iran seeks to unravel the motives and identify the perpetrators behind this tragic event.
