This Thursday, Iranian authorities lowered the death toll in the country to 84. Wednesday’s attack in Kermanone of the worst in decades, and they vowed to pursue the perpetrators using “all existing political, legal and international avenues.”

Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi announced that the final death toll was 84, down from the 103 initially announced, although he acknowledged that there were still several people in critical condition and in “adverse”.

According to the Iranian agency TasneemAssociated with the Revolutionary Guards, Wahidi cited the figure during a visit to several hospitals in the area, citing forensic evidence, but did not explain the reason why the figure was lowered. almost 20 people.

The minister also said that 284 people were injured, 220 people are still hospitalized, most of them in stable condition or requiring only “minor operations.”

Pursue criminals

“Security, intelligence and justice services are on full alert and under control, executing their plans in accordance with established protocols,” Vahidi said, referring to the situation in the area where one of the worst attacks took place. territory in recent decades.

Vahidi explained that the attack was carried out using “highly explosive” materials and was aimed at civilians who were injured by shrapnel, which constitutes an act of terrorism. “reprehensible, cowardly and malicious.”

The minister assured that The perpetrators of the attack will be arrested by security and intelligence forces and that those who support them “will fear the wrath of the Iranian people.”

For its part, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Persian country will use “all existing political, legal and international opportunities” to prosecute the perpetrators of the “hateful terrorist attack” in Kerman and that it will be condemned throughout the world. .

The attack occurred Wednesday afternoon as thousands of people were attending a ceremony marking the fourth anniversary of the killing of Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad on the orders of then-US President. Donald Trump.

“Without a doubt, supporting such heinous crimes against Iranian citizens, men, women and children, strengthens the love of the intelligent and strong Iranian people for the cause of the martyr Qassem Soleimani. This will also increase the solidarity and cohesion of the brave Iranian people and increase their enmity and hatred towards the known enemies of Islamic Iran,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry added.

Act of “revenge”

For their part, the Revolutionary Guards noted in a statement today that “indiscriminate and vicious” attack State television PressTV said the events in Kerman were a “failed attempt to create a security threat in the country” and an act of “revenge for the Iranian people’s great respect” for Soleimani.

In this sense, they pointed out that these actions demonstrate that “the enemies are not able to compensate for the defeats they suffered at the hands of General Soleimani,” who is considered one of the most influential figures of the Islamic Republic in the Middle East and an interlocutor with many of Iran’s allied factions.

The Iranian army also condemned the attack and warned that “this despicable act will not undermine the resolve and will of the Iranian people in their fight against terrorism, but rather will enhance their unity and coherence,” the state broadcaster reported.

Various Iranian authorities indirectly blamed Israel and the United States for the attack, which “harbored a grudge against Soleimani and “who decided to take revenge on the people after several of their plans to destabilize the country were neutralized.”

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller yesterday assured that Washington has “no reason to believe that Israel is involved” in the attack and said it is “too early” to know who is behind the incident.

The United States, as well as much of the international community, expressed their condolences and condemned the twin bombings in Kerman, for which no group has yet claimed responsibility.

EFE