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Iran blames the US in a deadly mosque bombing

by Nauman Umair Khan | May 29, 2009 at 08:11 am

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Iran has accused the US of an involvement in a recent mosque bombing that killed many in the south-eastern volatile region of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

An Iranian official accused the United States on Friday of involvement in a mosque bombing that killed more than 20 people in volatile south-eastern Iran, two weeks before the Islamic Republic's presidential election.

This incident took place on a religious holiday in the mainly Shi'ite Muslim country, killing more than 20 people and wounding more than 80. Also, according to some media and officials, it was suicide bomb attack.

The explosion, which some officials and media suggested was a suicide bombing, took place on a religious holiday in the mainly Shi'ite Muslim country. More than 80 people were wounded.

IRNA, the official news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran, put the death toll at 25 which includes two children and one unnamed victim.

The official IRNA news agency put the death toll at 25, naming all but one of the victims, who were men. Other media cited somewhat lower figures.

According to an official of provincial judiciary, Ebrahim Hamidi, the one who detonated the device was standing among those offering the prayers and is also reported dead.

The person who detonated the device was standing among men praying in Ali Ebne-Abitaleb mosque and was also killed, provincial judiciary official Ebrahim Hamidi said.

Ahmad Khatami, during his Friday sermon to the worshipers remarked, "The fingertips of America and Israel are definitely on this incident".

"The fingertips of America and Israel are definitely on this incident," Ahmad Khatami told Friday prayer worshippers in Tehran. The guilty would be arrested and "severely punished."

On the other hand, the US has completely negated the claims made against them.

Defense analyst Paul Beaver said it was "highly unlikely" that the U.S. administration of President Barack Obama, who is seeking to engage Tehran diplomatically after three decades of mutual mistrust, would support Sunni insurgents in Iran.

He said history had shown that backing guerrilla groups to effect regime change was "ineffectual and wrong, and the present U.S. administration does not want to be tarnished in that way."

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Nauman Umair Khan

at 09:46 on May 29th, 2009

Thanks, Paschen. Yup!

Exactly, such accusations, if not supported by evidence, will breed nothing but more hatred.

Roy C

at 09:00 on May 29th, 2009

This accusation is sick, sick, sick. And the people who have made are sick, sick, sick.

Paschen

at 08:53 on May 29th, 2009

This post is really well made. Even though the news is disturbing.

However, It may be a little early to point fingers. Iran may actually believe so, still it does need some concrete evidence to back up this claim.

sara star

at 09:29 on May 29th, 2009

USA foreign relations have suffered over the Bush years, and they made many enemies. Obama certainly has his work cut out for him. Glad to see he visited many nations at the start of his presidency.

Yellow Guitar

at 14:17 on May 29th, 2009

Suicide bombing does not fit the American MO.

If America had committed itself to bombing Iran there would be a much BIGGER bang. They may in time choose to vapourize Tehran, but they'd never stoop to using suicide bombers in a mosque. Please.

Hiranya Malwatta

at 10:54 on May 30th, 2009

I agree with Yellow Guitar.

They may in time choose to vapourize Tehran, like you say, if they want - but suicide bombing? No. A BIG NO.

Training and being a suicide bomber can only come with the kind of religious-like worship/reverence/obsession one can only find in an extremist group.

René

at 10:59 on May 31st, 2009

So, why did Iran summon the Pakistan Ambassador regarding this bombing? and they were sure in a hurry to hang three of the five they caught (before the actual bombing) and accused of being involved. all very curious.