Iran WARNS US of ‘SWIFT’ response at mass execution during military parade
IRAN has blamed terrorists “linked to America and Israel” for an attack on a military parade which killed at least 24 people and injured dozens more.
By SIMON OSBORNE
Express.co.uk
Sat, Sep 22, 2018
Senior officials in Tehran insisted the gunmen who opened fire on the ceremony in the southwestern city of Ahvaz were trained by two Gulf Arab states and had ties to Washington and the Israeli secret intelligence agency Mossad.
Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said: “These terrorists were trained and organised by two Gulf countries.”
“They are not from ISIS or other groups fighting Iran’s Islamic system.
“But they are linked to America and Mossad.”
Tehran foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said the assault was the handiwork of “regional terror sponsors”, language that usually refers to Iran’s enemies Saudi Arabia and Israel, and “their US masters”.
State television said the assault targeted a stand where Iranian officials had gathered to watch the parade.
At least 12 of the victims were members of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards who were taking part in n annual event marking the start of the Islamic Republic’s 1980-88 war with Iraq.
A security source said: “There are a number of non-military victims, including women and children who had come to watch the parade.”
The bloody attack comes as serious blow to Iran which has been relatively stable compared with neighbouring Arab countries that have grappled with upheaval since the 2011 uprisings across the Middle East.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack in the city of Ahvaz.
State television blamed Sunni Muslim militants for the attack. Ahvaz is in the centre of Khuzestan province, where there have been sporadic protests by the Arab minority in predominantly Shi’ite Iran.
Other security sources blamed Arab nationalists backed by Saudi Arabia for the attack.
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