TEHRAN: A suicide car bomber claimed by an al-Qaida-linked group attacked a bus carrying members of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard paramilitary force Wednesday, killing at least 27 people.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) personnel were traveling between the cities of Zahedan and Khash, in Sistan and Baluchestan province on Wednesday, when their bus was targeted in a suicide car bomb attack.
The IRGC’s Qods Headquarters said in a statement that an explosives-laden car rammed into the bus, which was taking the personnel back to their homes.
Iran President Rouhani called on Iran’s neighbours to assume their “legal responsibilities” and not allow “terrorists” to use their soil to prepare attacks.
The attack came on the same day as the United States gathered some 60 countries in Poland for a conference on the Middle East and Iran which they hoped would increase pressure on Tehran.
Iran quickly linked the attack to the Warsaw conference, where supporters of the formerly armed opposition People’s Mujahedeen plan a second day of protests on Thursday.
All 15 members, including the United States, which is a strong critic of Iran’s leaders, “expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government of Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Jaish ul-Adl terrorist group reportedly claimed responsibility for the bombing.Sistan and Baluchistan province, which lies on a major opium trafficking route, has seen occasional clashes between Iranian forces and Baluch separatists, as well as drug traffickers.
