Kerman, Iran — Twin blasts near the burial site of slain military commander Qasem Soleimani in the city of Kerman resulted in dozens of deaths on Wednesday, described by officials as a terror attack. The explosions occurred on the fourth anniversary of Soleimani’s death in a US airstrike and threaten to escalate tensions in the region, which have been heightened by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
State TV reported that the blasts, at least one of which was caused by a bomb, led to the deaths of at least 84 people and injuries to 284 others. The toll was revised due to a miscounting of body parts, as per state-run news agency IRNA, citing Iran’s national emergency agency.
No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts. However, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi blamed Israel for the explosions, threatening that Israel will pay a “heavy price” for the crime. He referred to Israel’s punishment as “regrettable and severe.”
The first explosion occurred 2,300 feet (700 meters) from Soleimani’s grave, and the second blast, which was more deadly, took place 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) away as pilgrims visited the site. Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi confirmed that the first explosion happened at 3:00 p.m. local time, followed by the second blast 20 minutes later when other pilgrims came to help the injured.
Videos posted on Iranian state media showed large crowds running in the area after the explosion, as well as bloodied bodies being transported from the scene, and ambulances leaving through large crowds. Iran declared Thursday a day of mourning following the blasts, and President Raisi canceled his upcoming trip to Turkey.
The blast comes amid heightened tensions in the region due to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with analysts and a US official speculating that the explosion had the hallmarks of a terrorist attack. The US has also recently stepped up its military involvement in the Middle East, with recent airstrikes and other military actions.
The story will continue to be updated with any additional developments.
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