Kerman Explosion Becomes Deadliest Incident in Iran Since Abadan Cinema Rex Fire
Yesterday’s explosion in Kerman marked the deadliest incident in Iran following the Abadan Cinema Rex fire.
On the 13th of Dey, coinciding with the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, two massive explosions occurred along the route of Kerman’s Martyrs’ Garden. According to reports released on the morning of the 14th of Dey 1402, the spokesman of Kerman’s Emergency Services announced: “The number of martyrs from the terrorist incident in Kerman has reached 103 people so far, and the number of injured has reached 211 people, with the condition of some being critical and the possibility of an increase in the death toll.”
The Iranian Red Crescent Society also reported the death of one aid worker and the injury of three other aid workers who had been dispatched to the scene to assist the injured in the second explosion. According to published reports, four police officers also lost their lives as a result of this incident.
Ayatollah Khamenei responded to the explosion by saying: “Both the blood-stained hands of those who murdered the innocent and the corrupt minds of those who led them to this deception will henceforth be targets of definitive suppression and just punishment. Let them know that this catastrophic act will, God willing, be met with a severe response.”
The incident also drew international reactions. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed condolences through an official statement, expressing sympathy for the terrorist bombing in Kerman. Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a message to Ayatollah Khamenei and Ibrahim Raisi, expressing condolences for the terrorist attack in the city of Kerman.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressing government spokesperson Hussein Amirabdollahian, condemned the terrorist attack in Kerman and referred to it as inhumane terrorist attacks.
Iraq also issued a statement condemning the terrorist attack and announced its readiness to provide any assistance to reduce the severity of these attacks.
The U.S. State Department spokesperson also spoke about the terrorist attacks in Kerman at his first press conference with journalists, saying: “Regarding the explosions in Iran, I must say that we have been closely following the reports and have no independent information to provide. We express our condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in these horrific explosions. It is too early to draw conclusions about the cause of these explosions, but I must say that the United States had no role in these attacks, and any statement to the contrary is absurd. We also have no reason to believe that Israel played a role in this explosion.”
