Iran twin blasts kill over 100: All we know of the explosions on Qasem Soleimani’s death anniversary

At least 103 people were killed and over 180 others were injured in twin bomb explosions near the Iranian general Qasem Soleimani’s tomb on January 3 as the slain military leader’s supporters were gathered in a procession to mark his fourth death anniversary. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has accused Israel of being behind the blast and has vowed that they will “pay a heavy price” for the act.

What we know so far

The first blast took place at around 3.04 pm local time (5.04 pm IST) on Wednesday around 700 m from Soleimani’s tomb as people were packed in to pay their tributes, as per the Iranian news agency Tasnim. The second blast took place 13 minutes later around 1 km away from the first one.

Quoting unnamed sources, the report said that “the perpetrator or perpetrators of the attack” had “exploded two explosive-laden suitcases with remote controllers,” killing many and causing a stampede which left hundreds injured.

The Iranian government has declared a day of national mourning on Thursday (January 4) and the Kerman province has declared three days of mourning in the wake of what the authorities have termed a “terrorist attack,” according to Tasnim.

No one has taken responsibility for the blasts so far.

Who was Qasem Soleimani?

Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani was killed in a US airstrike at Baghdad’s international airport on January 3, 2020. As The Indian Express had reported earlier, Soleimani was the commander of the Quds Force, the elite extra-territorial special forces arm of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and reported directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Pentagon said that the US military had killed him at the direction of then-President Donald Trump.

A popular figure in Iran and a potential presidential candidate, Soleimani was seen as a threat by the US and its adversaries. A report by the Associated Press said that he had wielded his regional clout publicly since 2018 when it was revealed that he had direct involvement in top-level talks over the formation of Iraq’s government.

Following his death, Soleimani was laid to rest in the Garden of Martyrs cemetery surrounding the Saheb al-Zaman mosque in Kerman province, where he was born.

Iranian leaders react

Iranian President Raisi blamed Israel for the blasts, as per a report on CNN. In a televised speech, Raisi said, “I warn the Zionist regime: Do not doubt that you will pay a heavy price for this crime and the crimes you have committed.”

“Undoubtedly, the perpetrators and masterminds of this cowardly act will soon be identified and brought to justice by the capable security and law enforcement forces,” he said, adding, “The enemies of the nation must know that such actions can never undermine the unwavering determination and will of the Iranian people to defend the Islamic ideals.”

People gather at the site of an explosion in the city of Kerman, about 820 km southeast of the capital Tehran, Iran, Jan. 3, 2024. (AP/PTI)

Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Wednesday condoled the deaths. “The enemies should know that, with God’s permission, perpetrators of this tragedy will be met with a strong response,” he said in a message on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“The evil, criminal enemies of the Iranian nation have once again created a tragedy and martyred a large number of our dear people in Kerman in the fragrant atmosphere of the martyrs’ tombs in Kerman. The Iranian nation is in grief and many families are mourning the death of their loved ones. The stony-hearted criminals could not tolerate seeing the love and affection of the people for visiting the grave of their great commander, Martyr Qasem Soleimani. The enemy should know the soldiers on Soleimani’s bright path won’t tolerate their vileness & crime. The hands stained with the blood of innocent people & the corrupt, evil minds that misdirected them will definitely be the target of a severe pounding and a deserving retribution,” he wrote in a series of tweets.

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