Iran Denies Responsibility for Bulgaria Terrorist Attack

Iran on Thursday rejected accusations by Israeli leaders that it was responsible for a bus bombing in Bulgaria on Wednesday in which five Israelis were killed, saying it condemns all terrorism.

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“Iran’s position is to condemn all terrorist acts in the world,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told Iranian Arabic-language television station al-Alam, according to a report published by Saudi news channel al-Arabiya.

“The Islamic republic, the biggest victim of terrorism, believes terrorism endangers the lives of innocents... is inhumane and so strongly condemns [it],”Mehmanparastwas quoted as saying.

Iran’s diplomatic representation in Sofia also released a statement saying, “The unfounded statements by different statesmen of the Zionist regime in connection with the accusations against Iran about its possible participation in the incident with the blown-up bus with Israeli tourists in Burgas is a familiar method of the Zionist regime, with a political aim, and is a sign of the weakness ... of the accusers.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres have both placed the blame for Wednesday’s terrorist attack, in which a bus carrying Israeli tourists was blown up by a suicide attacker, on Iran.

A Lebanese man was arrested in early July in Cyrus for allegedly plotting to attack Israeli tourists on the island reportedly admitted to being a member of Hezbollah, which is linked to Iran.

Israel has also blamed Iran for a string of recent attacks and attempted attacks against Israeli targets in Kenya, Azerbeijan, Thailand, India and Georgia this year.