News Brief
People gather at the site of an explosion in the city of Kerman.
Iran finds itself on the brink of retaliation following a devastating attack that claimed the lives of at least 84 individuals during a ceremony commemorating the late commander Qassem Soleimani.
The explosions occurred at a critical moment in history, with the country still grappling with the aftermath of Soleimani's death in 2020 at the hands of a US drone in Iraq.
Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, alongside first Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber, have unequivocally pledged revenge for the brutal attack, as reported by The Hindu.
Meanwhile, The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the explosions, as confirmed by a senior official in US President Joe Biden's administration, who labeled the incident as a "terrorist attack" reminiscent of past actions by the extremist group.
Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards also condemned the attack as a cowardly act designed to instill insecurity and undermine the nation's deep-rooted love for the Islamic Republic.
The statement from the Revolutionary Guards emphasised that the incident only served to strengthen their resolve to justly punish those behind the heinous act.
President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the attack as a "heinous and inhumane crime," while the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei promised revenge for the twin bombings.
In a curious twist, some second-tier Iranian officials have pointed fingers at the US and Israel, placing blame on them for the tragic events.