TEHRAN: At least 73 people were killed, and 170 others sustained injuries in two consecutive explosions near the grave of General Qasem Soleimani in Iran’s southern city of Kerman. The incident occurred as a crowd gathered to mark the anniversary of the 2020 assassination of the revered commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in the Saheb al-Zaman Mosque in Kerman.
Iran’s state television reported that “at least 73 people lost their lives in this incident,” emphasizing the gravity of the situation. The blasts, occurring near the memorial site, prompted an immediate response from ambulances and rescue personnel. The cause of the explosions remains unknown at this time.
Twin Blasts in Iran
Images broadcast on state television showed an immediate emergency response presence at the scene, underscoring the severity of the incident. Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that in addition to the fatalities, around 170 people sustained injuries in the explosions.
General Qasem Soleimani, who led the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, was assassinated in a US drone strike just outside Baghdad airport in 2020. The anniversary of his death is marked with commemorations across the country, and he continues to be a revered figure in Iran.
Kerman province’s emergency services chief said they were caused by bombs. A video circulated online appeared to show several bodies on the ground.
