Iran Arrests 11 Suspects in Deadly Bomb Blasts at Commander’s Memorial Service

Iranian authorities announced on Friday the apprehension of 11 individuals believed to be connected to two bomb explosions that resulted in the loss of nearly 100 lives during a memorial service for a slain military commander in Kerman, southeastern Iran. The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for the attacks that took place on Wednesday.

The intelligence ministry of Iran stated that security forces detained two individuals accused of providing support to the two suicide bombers in Kerman. Additionally, nine other suspects, located in different parts of Iran, were apprehended due to their suspected links to the incident.

These bombings marked the deadliest attacks in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. As the victims were laid to rest on Friday, mourners, depicted on state TV, grieved beside coffins while crowds chanted “revenge, revenge.” The explosions occurred during a memorial service for General Qassem Soleimani, a military commander assassinated in Iraq in 2020 by a U.S. drone.

The attacks unfolded in the midst of heightened tension in the region, with Israel’s ongoing conflict against Hamas in Gaza approaching its three-month mark.