1. What happened?
An attack in Iran on Wednesday, January 3, killed around 84 people – including six children – and injured 284. Two explosions occurred near a cemetery in the city of Kerman, 820 kilometers southeast of Tehran. A ceremony was held there to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, one of the most charismatic figures in the country's recent history, who died in a US drone strike in 2020. According to witness accounts, both explosions occurred 10 minutes apart near Soleimani's grave. Iranian authorities initially said these were caused by two remotely detonated bombs, but this Thursday an investigator pointed out that it was likely they were carried out by suicide bombers. The authorities initially spoke of more than 100 victims, later they reduced the number to 95 and this Thursday again to 84. The reason for these changes is that there were many duplicate names.
2. Who is behind it?
The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility via Telegram this Thursday, more than 30 hours after the attack. The jihadist group, which took control of large parts of Syria and Iraq a few years ago, was responsible for several attacks in the Islamic Republic between 2017 and 2022. An Iranian researcher pointed out this Thursday that the explosions were probably carried out by “suicide terrorists” and not by remotely detonated devices, as was initially assumed. Shortly before, ISIS had said in a statement that the attack had been carried out by “two martyrs,” whom it named. The Iranian government has not yet responded to the Islamic State's statement, although it announced Thursday morning that it would strengthen borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan – a clear sign that early signs point to ISIS. Previously, the Iranian authorities had not publicly blamed anyone and had limited themselves to calls for revenge. However, Esmail Qaani, commander-in-chief of Iran's Quds Force, said the attacks were carried out by “agents of the Zionist regime.” [Israel] and the United States.” Tehran often accuses its bitter enemies Israel and the United States of supporting anti-Iranian militant groups.
3. Why was Qasem Soleimani so symbolic?
General Qasem Soleimani was considered by many experts to be the most powerful person in Iran after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and is considered the architect of Iran's intelligence and military strength. He began his military career in 1979, joining the Revolutionary Guards a few weeks after Ayatollah Khomeini founded the military organization to protect the newly declared Islamic Republic. He was the mastermind of Iran's intervention in Iraq and, since the 1990s, commander of the elite Quds Force, the unit responsible for operations abroad. From that position, Soleimani directed secret operations abroad and was a key figure in Iran's long campaign to drive U.S. forces out of the Middle East.
Join EL PAÍS to follow all the news and read without restrictions.
Subscribe to
He also played an important role in Iran's fight against the Islamic State and in the Syrian civil war, in which Tehran was instrumental in keeping Bashar al-Assad in power. In Iran he was considered a mythical figure, while the USA and Israel viewed him as a terrorist since 2011. Months before his assassination, the Trump administration added the Quds Force to its list of terrorist organizations. Soleimani was killed on January 3, 2020, in a drone strike on the airport in Baghdad, the Iraqi capital, carried out by the US military on orders from then-President Donald Trump.
4. In what context does it take place?
The explosions came a day after the attack that killed the number two of the Palestinian Hamas militia, Saleh al Aruri, in Beirut, for which Lebanese and Palestinian authorities blame Israel, although it has not claimed responsibility, and in Gaza more than 22,000 people died people died. If the authorship is confirmed, it would be the greatest Israeli success since the war in Gaza began on October 7th. Tensions between Iran and Israel and their ally the United States have reached new heights following the war in Gaza.
5. What impact did it have on Iran?
The government has declared this Thursday a day of mourning out of respect for the victims of what it says is the worst attack since the founding of the Islamic Republic in 1979. The Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it would use all international means to identify and bring to justice those involved in the attacks and those who supported them. At the cemetery where the explosions occurred, a crowd gathered Wednesday evening chanting “Death to Israel” and “Death to the United States.”
6. How have Western governments, particularly the US and Europe, responded?
The European Union has expressed its condolences to the victims and expressed its hope that those responsible for this “terrorist attack” will be held accountable. US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a press conference that the US was not involved in any way and that Iran had no reason to believe that Israel was involved. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has made a similar claim.
7. And those closest to Iran?
World leaders like Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have spoken out. “We are deeply saddened (…) I express my deepest condolences to the friendly and brotherly Iranian people,” he lamented on his X account. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Iran and condemned “terrorism in all its forms.” Forms”. The Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthi rebels, Iran's regional allies, have condemned the attacks. Hezbollah made the comments through its secretary general Hasan Nasrallah, who condemned “the treasonous attack” in a televised address. The political office of the Houthi, for its part, sent a statement of disapproval against the “hateful” attack. Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and even Saudi Arabia, traditionally a rival of Iran, have also condemned the attacks.
Follow all international information on Facebook and Xor in our weekly newsletter.