TEHRAN: The death toll in twin blasts that took place in the Iranian city of Kerman near the burial site of slain military commander Qasem Soleimani on Wednesday has risen to 103, CNN reported.
Moreover, 188 people were injured as a result of the blast. Officials called it a ‘terror’ attack; however, there is no further information on it.
The first explosion was 700 metres away from Soleimani’s grave, and the second was a kilometre (0.6 miles) away as pilgrims visited the site, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) said.
The blasts reportedly took place on the fourth anniversary of Soleimani’s death in a US air strike, and it now threatens the risk of escalating regional tensions that have been on the rise since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, CNN reported.
Although no organisation has taken credit for the explosions, Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi accused Israel of being behind them and warned that it would pay a “heavy price.”
“I warn the Zionist regime; do not doubt that you will pay a heavy price for this crime and the crimes you have committed”, Raisi said in a televised speech from Tehran, according to CNN. The Iranian President, following the blasts, has issued a dire warning, stating that Israel will face “regrettable and severe” consequences.
One of the most influential figures in Iran in the past, Soleimani oversaw the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, an elite force that manages Iran’s international operations and which the US designated as a foreign terrorist organisation.
In the wake of the explosions, Iran has announced a day of mourning on Thursday, while Raisi has cancelled his planned visit to Turkey. (ANI)