Iran blames 'satanic' U.S. for suicide attack, vows revenge
U.S., U.K. deny role in attack that killed 35, despite accusations; Iran: Sunni group claims responsibility.
By News Agencies Tags: Iran Iran Revolutionary Guard Israel newsThe Iranian armed forces have accused the United States and Britain of involvement in a suicide bombing that targeted the Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guard on Sunday, and warned of revenge.
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.
Both the U.S. and Britain condemned the attack on Sunday and denied any involvement.
"We condemn this act of terrorism and mourn the loss of innocent lives. Reports of alleged US involvement are completely false," said State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier in the day vowed to strike back at the "criminals" behind the suicide bombing.
"The criminals will soon get the response for their anti-human crimes," IRNA quoted Ahmadinejad as saying. The Iranian leader also accused unspecified foreigners of involvement.
At least 35 people were killed in the attack including five senior commanders of the Guard, the country's official news agency reported.
Earlier Sunday, a Sunni rebel group claimed responsibility for the attack, Iranian state television said.
"Rigi's terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack," it said, referring to Abdolmalek Rigi, leader of Jundollah (God's soldiers).
The group, which has waged a low-level insurgency in recent years, accuses Iran's mostly Shi'ite government of persecution and has carried out attacks against the Revolutionary Guard and Shi'ite targets in southeastern Iran.
Meanwhile, Iranian state television cited informed sources as saying Britain was directly involved in the suicide attack.
The Guards had earlier blamed "foreign elements" linked to the United States for the attack in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan.
The attack and the allegations of foreign involvement are likely to raise tension between Iran and the West, a day before nuclear talks in Vienna including Iranian, U.S., French and Russian officials.
"Some informed sources said the British government was directly involved in the terrorist attack ... by organizing, supplying equipment and employing professional terrorists," Iranian state television said.
The television report said analysts believed the aim of the attack was to "re-direct" parts of the West's problems in Afghanistan across the border to Iran.
Britain condemns bombing
A Foreign Office spokesman in London declined to comment directly on the Iranian comments and instead issued a statement, saying: "The British government condemns the terrorist attack in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan in Iran and the sad loss of life which it caused.
"Terrorism is abhorrent wherever it occurs. Our sympathies go to those who have been killed in the attack and to their families," it said.
The IRNA news agency said the dead included the deputy commander of the Guard's ground force, Gen. Noor Ali Shooshtari, as well as a chief provincial Guard commander for the area, Rajab Ali Mohammadzadeh. The other dead were Guard members or local tribal leaders. Dozens of others were wounded, the report said.
The commanders were inside a car on their way to a meeting in the Pishin region near Iran's border with Pakistan when an attacker with explosives blew himself up, IRNA said.
Iran's parliamentary speaker, Ali Larijani, also condemned the assassination of the Guard commanders, saying the bombing was aimed at disrupting security in southeastern Iran.
"We express our condolences for their martyrdom. ... The intention of the terrorists was definitely to disrupt security in Sistan-Baluchistan Province," Larijani told an open session of the parliament broadcast live on state radio.
In May, Jundallah took credit for a suicide bombing at a Shiite mosque that killed 25 people in Zahedan, the capital of Iran's Sistan-Baluchistan province, which has witnessed some of Jundallah's worst attacks. Thirteen members of the faction were convicted in the attack and hanged in July.
Jundallah, comprised of Sunnis from the Baluchi ethnic minority, has carried out bombings, kidnappings and other attacks against Iranian soldiers and other forces in recent years, including a car bombing in February 2007 that killed 11 members of the Revolutionary Guard near Zahedan.
Jundallah also claimed responsibility for the December 2006 kidnapping of seven Iranian soldiers in the Zahedan area. It threatened to kill them unless members of the group in Iranian prisons were released. The seven were released a month later, apparently after negotiations through tribal mediators.
The Revolutionary Guard was created after the 1979 Islamic Revolution as an ideological bulwark to defend Iran's clerical rule. The 120,000-strong elite force controls Iran's missile program and has its own ground, naval and air units.
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Gen. Noor Ali Shooshtari, the deputy commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard's ground force. |
| Photo by: (AP) |
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Suicide bombing is rare in Iran -- it's more of an arab thing than Iranian (you do know Iranians aren't arab, right? riiight!) And this one wasthe work of a sunni group that has nothing in common with shia or Persian mentality for that matter. You'd hope one would learn about suicide bombing mentality and the perpetrators of the horrific 9-11 events..... Keep your crocodile tears for yourself. The innocent lives in Iran surely can do without your phoney sympathies.
It is well established that the US has been supporting Jundallah since at least 2005. U.S. officials say the U.S. relationship with Jundullah is arranged so that the U.S. provides no funding to the group, which would require an official presidential order or "finding" as well as congressional oversight. Tribal sources told ABC News that money for Jundullah was funneled to its youthful leader, Abd el Malik Regi, through Iranian exiles. Pakistani government sources told ABC News the secret campaign against Iran by Jundullah was on the agenda when Vice President Dick Cheney met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in February, 2007. A senior U.S. government official said groups such as Jundullah have been helpful in tracking al Qaeda figures and that it was appropriate for the U.S. to deal with such groups in that context. Some former CIA officers say the arrangement is reminiscent of how the U.S. government used proxy armies, funded by other countries including Saudi Arabia, to destabilize the government of Nicaragua in the 1980s.
when are you lot going to stop blaming anyone else but yourselves for your own stupidity??? You want Iran to attack Israel/USA/UK/NATO over this be my guest, but no running to UN this time when you get the well earned and long overdue thrashing. apart from that tango abit and have a siesta and a wonderful evening :-)
the Taliban would love to see Pak army diverted off their back and towards clashes on Pak - Iran border.
whether it's in Iran, Israel, or anywhere!
The Mossad and general Petraeus are active in training "Kurdish" militias to infiltrate Iran and Syria to assassinate officials and incite tribal strifes.
I heard on the BBC that as soon as the bombing was announced in the Iranian Parliament, everyone there started bleating "Death to America"like salivating Pavlovian dogs. Talk about brainwashed!
on the roofs of the Natanz and Qom nuclear plants. We'll now see just how stupid the mullahs really are. More bloodthirsty Iranian threats against America - yet another visible "dividend" of our buffoonish president's strategy of "engaging" Iran.
Dont believe Iranians are fools
"Why isn`t Iran blaming Israel? Israel has the most to benefit" - Mark Learnan For the simple reason that it has been the US and Britain who have been sponsoring insurgencies in Iran for the last 8 years. Sorry if reality has to intrude upon your vision. The US has stopped financing and arming those insurgents, but that happened too little time ago to have an influence.
ah, no problem, see? must have been a reason
Those in Jerusalem should be hoping that Iran's Revolting Guards (deliberate play on words) do something stupid again like harass US war ships again. This would get them blown out of the water and if the Iranians go too far, would give the US the pretext for greater military action against Iran.
I am not in approval at the loss of innocent lives - however, it's nice to see the Iranians getting a taste of their own Islamic medicine!
don't do to others what you wouldn't do to yourself.A taste of your own medicine, a Tehran??? Ahmaidiot must be getting desperate trowing blame on everybody;)))
The covert support for the Afghan rebels started under Gerald Ford, whom was trying to cope with the mess left by Johnson and Nixon. The effort was limited to Afghanistan rebels. Carter continued the program during his administration. It was Ronald Reagan and William Casey who devised, with the help of the House of Saud, of creating a group of Arabs who would under the cover of the Soviet-Afghan war, infiltrate the Islamic Republics of the Soviet Union and spread terrorism and insurrection. Carter played a part, but the operation that became Al Queada didn't happen until three years after he left office.
Iran's govt sucks so bad and is hated by so many of its people that any opposition is easily blamed on the US or israel to brainwash the iranians away from their real issues. Ahmadinejad has diarreah of the mouth and mind
Don't forget (it is not commonly publisised) that Iran helps to stabalise the borders with Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq. If they chose to 'turn a blind eye' or even actively support (like they did with the anti British militia in Basra) the various groups operating in these regions they could cause embarrasment to the US efforts to 'restore order' in these areas. They could even bog down the US and slow down - even prevent a US withdrawl. Of course the US may actually hope they try something as it would give them the green light to force through sanctions (I don't think the current administration would try direct confrontation though).
they use Israel as their corban for USA. USA of course is oblivious as long as they are safe and warm
as Pak gov control over its territory and nuc sites is crumbling, there is an opportunity for Iran to help themselves to Pak weapons stockpiles. Educated bet: Iran's next "nuc test" would be within Pak territory.
Go ahead and give US an excuse to attack you.
anti- human crimes? then why does he do it all the time to other peoples?
Gosh, I thought they'd blame Israel for sure! Oh well, I guess they finally realized they can't blame Israel for everything. Apparently, Ahmadinejad doesn't have enough enemies.
not surprised though. But I am sure the French are talking to iran probably giving available intelligence to show it was an Al Qaeda operation to try and spark a war between Iran and whoever to try and get the pressure off them vis a vis the Pakistan offensive. Probably encouraging that the Iranians blamed us and not Israel though.
... soul searching, self-criticism, introspection. This case of course is one more such case in which others are automatically blamed and revenge is called for, without searching for evidence, without examining oneself. Is this the way people of the Middle Ages used to view the world around them...??
I know, my English is not great, but it isn't that bad either...:)
Brad, I am suggesting that the whole world does not consist of people who are out to destroy Israel. I suggest that calls for Israel to investigate what appears to be war crimes does not equal revoking Israel's right to self defence. I also suggest that all criticism of Israel coming from abroad should not be summarily dismissed as anti-Semitism. In my opinion these are pretty simple facts, but the average Israeli politician seems to have a very hard time coming to terms with them. The immediate response to any kind of criticism seems to be to decide that the critic is an anti-Semite, usually the second step is that the critic's whole nation is anti-Semitic. Once these facts have been established any criticism can safely be ignored and instead you feed the population its daily dose of nationalism and "isolation in the world".
you can't just start a theatre-wide nuclear war without these preliminary steps. Now we await the retaliatory "Iranian" response which will set the stage for a morally-justifiable obligatory combined Israeli-US strike (or a Israeli strike in which the USA must come in quickly to aid their beleaguered ally?). No wonder in the USA that homeland security/law enforcement are engaging in such blatant criminal efforts at suppression of dissent.
Do you mean like the Americans and British in Afghanistan and killing tens of thousands of civilians using their Israeli made drones?
Although I have disagreed with you oft time, your presentations are at least thought out and provided without animosity. That said, I would invite you to post a short comment on your beliefs and viewpoints on our web site, NOT-haaretz.com. It is always a pleasure exchanging thoughts devoid of the rancor and hatred presented by some. Please email me via the site Thank Chris
re "Employing the logic some states do, a reasonable `response` would be to invade some neighbor and kill 5-10K random civilians." I hadn't notice that Iran blamed its neighbours and hadn't noticed that Iran's civilians have been under attack for years from rockets, many thousands of them, from killers and suicide bombers. Take all the swipes you want, the situation is as different as night and day.
Nice news now the masters of terror are getting some remuneration back .Iran spreads hate all around the world now finally someone keep bombing them. Yes i forgot 72 virgins are always 72 virgins.
Are you suggesting that Israel is not under attack? If so, time to give your brain a tune up, or is it your heart that is thinking for you?
I also hope, as an Iranian, the government will not use this terrorist act against the peaceful uprising of the Iranian people against the current despotic regime. The problem is a lot of innocent people will end up paying for the UK-US criminal support for terrorism. Mark Lincoln is spot on.
How curious that Iran should condemn an alleged Attack yet peaceful demonstrators after the election that the opposition claims was a fraud were gunned down in cold blood. Where is the UN Human Rights Commission on this? Why hasn't it ever condemned these actions by Iran's President? Better they should put Israel on the chopping block?
A link to an American news story that shows that the Iranian claims of US involvement aren't as far fetched as imagined, and right before a post asking for a link to something like that. I'm always amused when random chance produces such things (in a way, it's better than having them the other way around, makes the calls for proof seem more hollow when they come after the proof is offered)
Employing the logic some states do, a reasonable 'response' would be to invade some neighbor and kill 5-10K random civilians.
Afghanistan allegedly provides 90% of the world's heroin. The Opium cultivation was outlawed during the Taliban rule and was almost eliminated 2001. (Washington Post 2 December 2006) How entrenched is corruption in the Karzai government of Afghanistan? What do NATO countries benefit from allowing the opium industry in Afghanistan? There must be some benefit that outweighs concern for the death of their young people when heroine from Afghanistan sources hits their streets.
when there is suicide bombing in iran then there will be a retaliation from iran. Because as long as iran thinks jundallah is a fake Id for U.S or Uk or israel it will take revenge and not from jundallah I guess.
Notice how Ahmadinejad takes every chance he gets to give the Iranian population the impression that Iran is under attack from the rest of the world. Thereby bolstering nationalism and support for himself, as the defender of Iran. We saw precisely the same tactic used during the protests against his election. And we see exactly the same tactic used by Israeli officials such as Lieberman and Bibi.
I also read this conspiracy theory might be used by Iran to stir up trouble in Iraq to target the British soldiers in Basra. (Like conspiracy theories about the Jews to stir up trouble in Lebanon so they attack Israel?)
Bush administration indirectly backed this group, mainly for intel but Obama dropped ties. My ememy's ememy is a friend is dangerous when it comes to religious radicals or something with suppressed minorities with little left to lose.
Or do they mean Israeli forces with "terrorists"?
These are legitimate freedom fighters. Any attempt to defend Iran against them will be considered an act of aggression, and a crime against humanity. Isn?t that right Mr. Ayatollah?
Iran blames outsiders for internal unrest is a conspiracy theory; truth is provinces in Iran don't like present Iranian govt. Many of these provinces hold the oil and gas. Who will take over after the ayatollahs? Will Iran remain united or divided?
Now we get to see if Iran is just a paper pussycat or as tough as they claim? I say it was a British bomber carrying an American made bomb and of course using Israeli intelligence for the perfect timing . Does the evil elf have the guts to come out and play with the big boys or just cry foul and ask for help from the UN .
"You cannot just `turn off` religious fanatics." Does that include the religious fanatics in Gaza and the ones running the Iranian government?
"Rejoice not at thine enemy's fall-but don't rush to pick him up,either".
The United Nations must maintain the Law and uphold the morality it stands for. Iran must be called out for crimes against humanity if they try to defend themselves against terrorists. NO EXEPTIONS.
At least our good friends, Iran and UK will slug it out.
Iran sponsor of hezbollah and hamas is getting a dose with more to come. The Sunni population will most likely pay dearly for this act, Iran is not Israel and there will be no Goldstone. I am shedding no tears for the Revolutionary Guard. However,given the suicide tactic, I am a little conflicted, if it were civilian dead, the act would have to be condemned.
i hope there are some in iran who are able to see the irony & the parallel to something their own government is actively pursuing.
Sunnis killing Shias while they are both supposed to be Muslim???? when have you seen Sephardim/Mizrachi/Oriental Jews and Yemenites kill Ashkenazim or even visa versa? In Ireland Catholics and Protestants have a go at eachother, as for us Jews we have no factional bloodshed to date. :-)
It was Pres Carter who mad Bin Laden possible. ... and you know it.
The Bush administration had been backing th sunni terrorist organization Jundallah. The Obama administration was to have terminated support. Conservatives have learned nothing from the Reagan administration's creation of what is now called Al Queada. You cannot just 'turn off' religious fanatics.
I am assuming Turkey's downgrading of it's relationship with Israel is not a cover for allowing Israeli planes to cross Turkish airspace enroute to Iran. In that case, this may serve to widen the Sunni - Shia gap sufficiently that Saidi Arabia will not scramble their jets when the Israeli Airforce crosses their airspace. Even if Iran blames Israel, the Iranians will crack down on the Sunni's as well. Also, Iran is very busy seeking not to provoke at attack on itself, it would make no sense for them to go too hard on Israel. Who knows? Maybe the pilots will fly out via the Turkish border and back by the Saudi interior with Dolphin launched Popeye Four cruise missiles to take out the softer targets such as IRBM's? Crazy isn't? We, the West, invaded Iraq on the premise of WMD's while it's neighbour who has a maturing nuclear program as well as the most threat expousing regime of the M.E. can't yet be stopped, except by Israel, because the the G.F.C and a global mood of anti-militarism.
I guess it depends if Jews have died in the attack.
Baluchistan wants to be an autonomous region. They along with the Kurds would like their own territory which is part of Iran.
Is anyone upset that the suicide terrorist masterminds of Iran have got a taste of their own medicine? "He who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind and he who throws the first stone will be buried under the avalanche". The Revolutionary Guards have thrown the first stones, at Israel and at the democratic people of Iran; now it looks like their own avalanche is beginning to fall on them.
My deepest sympathies to the family members/friends of the suicide bomber. After decades of supporting terrorism, the Revolutionary Guard got an appropriate reward. May the bomber's sacrifice inspire other Iranians to fight tyranny, and the sooner the better.
Ahmadinejad blames the British--would that be James Bond?
In the next few weeks, there will by a myriad of people hung over this. Some will be guilty of their involvement, some will not. However, not a word will be said in the U.N. about this as their double standards are what they are and incidents such as these are almost (see guys I did say "almost") never addressed.
where is the unholy trinity of Carter Goldstone and Tutu.? They desrerve a Nobel prize for hypocrisy.
like how much and what the US tries to destabilize in Iran.I hope you will supply some links that are not related to Al Qaida or Iran regime.
That is the group sponsored by the CIA via Saudi Arabia and Jordan. http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/04/abc_news_exclus.html
And now watch Ahmadinejad retaliation.Poor Sunnis.
blame us. One should convene the security council immediately !!!
These revolutionary guard chiefs who were killed may not have nice blokes but suicide bombing is not going to bring down the corrupt Islamist extremist government in Iran. Who cares who they blame. The government of Iran know they are hated by most Iranians. Iran's government has lost the confidence of the Iranian people and now even their fellow terrorists have turned against them.
Please explain to us how you equate blaming the USA to blaming the Mossad and asking for help from ther mossad. Is the US and the Mossad one in the same James??????
it is no secret at all, that the u.s. and its allies have been funding insurgency activitiy inside iran for years.
I think that the lot of you should just pause for a second and consider if this is really what God wants?
It's hard to believe that the US has the capability of such a successful operation. We remember Jimmy Carters "successful operation" .
iran in anyway possible, I won't be surprize if this "soldires of god" receive any pice of it. I just hope this will not turn to another Alqaida in the future
cant be hidden by screaming its somebody elses fault.
I have read that this group 'is US sponsored'. If true the US is on thin ice as this region is already a tinder box an the last thing the region needs is further destabalisation on yet another part of the Pakistan border. As far as Iran is concerned this is not a great deal - just a bit of an embarresment - as they prided themselves on border security in this southern region. I shall watch developments with interest.
Looks like you'r right, just saw a news flash that they blamed the US for being behind it
Both are fighting a low level war against the RG. It also appears that the drug cartels have killed many police officers who protect the Afghan / Iran border. Iran has the highest rate per capita of heroin users in the world. One can only guess why.
So it appears that some terrorism is good and some is apparently bad. It all depends on who the target is. If their wives and children had been along, would that have been good terrorism or bad terrorism? Can I get some of the candy being passed out, even if I'm not dancing on the rooftops?
Ahmadinejad will definitely try to blame the Mossad and the US. Desperate people do desperate things.
who could be motivated to do something like this? Anyway... good work!