WASHINGTON: The United States (US) on Wednesday rejected suggestions that Israel or the US was behind deadly explosions in Iran at the grave of Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated four years ago in an American attack in Iraq.
“The US was not involved in any way, and any suggestion to the contrary is silly,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said. He said that they have no reason to believe that Israel was involved in this blast.
Washington Says Israel, US Not Behind Iran Explosion
At least 103 people were killed, and more than 170 others were 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.
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.”
