Media reported that at least 73 people died when two bombs went off simultaneously near a crowd celebrating Qasem Solimani’s anniversary of death on January 3.
State television described the blasts as an act of terror. Tensions ran high throughout West Asia after Hamas deputy-leader Saleh al Aruori, an Iranian ally, was fatally struck down in Beirut by a drone strike which Lebanese authorities blamed on Israel.
Explosions were heard near Saheb al-Zaman Mosque, located near Soleimani’s southern home town and where he is interred. Supporters gathered in Kerman to commemorate four years since Soleimani died from US drone strike near Baghdad Airport.
Kerman’s deputy governor disclosed that the explosions had been staged as part of an act of terrorism.
On Wednesday, hundreds attended a memorial ceremony honoring Gen. Soleimani who had been killed two years prior by US drone attacks in Iraq’s neighboring nation of Iran.
Soleimani is widely seen as Iran’s second-most influential individual after Ayatollah Khamenei.
He served as the primary architect of Iranian policies in the Middle East as leader of Revolutionary Guard’s overseas operations arm Quds Force.
He led Quds force clandestine operations by providing guidance, funding, arms, intelligence and logistical support for Hamas, Hezbollah and allied countries including Hamas.
Soleimani had been designated by former US president Donald Trump – who ordered her death – as “the world’s number one terrorist”.
Irib, the state broadcaster, reported today’s explosions as injuring 171 individuals. The explosions struck Kerman city in southern Iran where hundreds were walking towards Gen Soleimani gravesite for commemorative ceremony.
Soleimani served as commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard’s overseas operations arm – Quds Force – which conducted clandestine operations around the globe and provided guidance, funding and weapons to various allies and armed groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and Hamas, according to BBC.
Former US president Donald Trump described Soleimani as the world’s “number one terrorist”, ordering for Soleimani’s assassination in 2020.
