Suicide blast: Iran blames US
2009-10-18 17:30
Tehran - Iran's armed forces accused the United States and Britain of involvement in Sunday's attack on the elite Revolutionary Guards and warned of revenge, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported.
A suicide bomber blew himself up, killing seven commanders and 23 other people.
The headquarters of the armed forces blamed the bombing on "terrorists" backed by "the Great Satan America and its ally Britain".
"Not in the distant future we (Iran) will take revenge ... and Baluchis will clear this region from terrorists and criminals," Fars quoted a statement as saying, referring to the inhabitants of Sistan-Baluchestan province, where the attack took place.
The chief prosecutor in Sistan-Baluchestan said Abdolmalek Rigi, the head of the shadowy Sunni rebel group, Jundallah (Soldiers of God) had "accepted the responsibility" for the attack.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned of swift retribution against those who carried out the attack.
"I am ordering the relevant officials to identify quickly the elements of this terrorist crime and hand them over to the judiciary," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by IRNA.
"I assure the Iranian people, especially the dear people of Sistan-Baluchestan that the criminals will receive very soon a response to their inhuman acts."
Parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani said the United States was implicated in the deadly attack.
Sign of animosity
"We consider the recent terrorist attack to be the result of US action. This is the sign of America's animosity against our country," Larijani said.
"Mr Obama has said he will extend his hand towards Iran, but with this terrorist action he has burned his hand," he said referring to US President Barack Obama's repeated diplomatic overtures to Tehran.
The United States condemned the suicide bombing and denied any involvement in the attack.
"We condemn this act of terrorism and mourn the loss of innocent lives," state department spokesperson Ian Kelly said in a statement in Washington.
"Reports of alleged US involvement are completely false," he added.
Iranian officials have previously accused Britain and the United States of supporting ethnic minority rebels such as Jundallah operating in the sensitive border areas, especially in Sistan-Baluchestan province.