MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday extended his condolences over twin explosions in Iran near the grave of the killed General Qasem Soleimani.
In a letter to Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Putin said that the killing of peaceful people visiting the mausoleum is shocking in its cynicism and cruelty.
Earlier, at least 103 people were killed, and more than 170 others injured in two consecutive bomb explosions during a gathering commemorating the fourth anniversary of the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani in Iran’s southern city of Kerman. The explosions took place near the Saheb al-Zaman Mosque in Kerman, Soleimani’s hometown, where he is buried.
Iran’s official media referred to the bombings as a “terrorist attack,” escalating regional tensions. The explosions occurred amid heightened regional instability, with Tuesday’s killing of Hamas number two Saleh al-Aruri in a Beirut drone strike, which Lebanese officials linked to Israel.
Putin Extends Condolences with Iran over Terrorist Attack
The bombings, targeting civilian population who had gathered to honor Soleimani, resulted in around 170 people being injured, according to state media. Kerman’s deputy governor declared the incident as a “terrorist attack.”
Earlier, Pakistan strongly condemned the dastardly terrorist attack that occurred earlier on Wednesday in the Martyrs Cemetery of the provincial capital of Kerman, Iran, resulting in large number of deaths and injuries.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson said, “Pakistan stands in complete solidarity with the Government and brotherly people of Iran in this hour of tragedy and grief”.
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It added that Pakistan extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured people.
The statement further said that Pakistan believed that terrorism is a menace and threat to regional and international peace and security. “It needs to be confronted through bilateral and regional cooperation” the statement added.
